disclaim
Americanverb (used with object)
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disclaims,
present (3rd person singular)
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disclaimed,
past participle, past
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disclaiming
present participle
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to deny or repudiate interest in or connection with; disavow; disown.
disclaiming all participation.
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Law. to renounce a claim or right to.
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to reject the claims or authority of.
verb (used without object)
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disclaims,
present (3rd person singular)
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disclaimed,
past participle, past
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disclaiming
present participle
-
Law. to renounce or repudiate a legal claim or right.
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Obsolete. to disavow interest.
verb
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(tr) to deny or renounce (any claim, connection, etc)
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(tr) to deny the validity or authority of
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law to renounce or repudiate (a legal claim or right)
Usage
What does disclaim mean? Disclaim most generally means to deny any involvement or interest in something—to disavow or disown. It’s often used in a legal context to reject responsibility for something or to renounce a claim or the rights to something. The noun form of disclaim is disclaimer, which refers to a statement or document intended to limit the responsibility or legal liability of a company, organization, or person. Disclaimers typically claim that the party issuing the disclaimer is NOT responsible for certain risks or is NOT affiliated with certain other parties—they make as many statements as they can to disclaim any responsibility. Example: It says right here that the parties to this contract disclaim any responsibility for lost revenue resulting from the agreement.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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disclaimsimple
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disclaimssimple
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have disclaimedperfect
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has disclaimedperfect
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am disclaimingprogressive
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are disclaimingprogressive
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is disclaimingprogressive
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have been disclaimingperfect progressive
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has been disclaimingperfect progressive
Past
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disclaimedsimple
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had disclaimedperfect
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was disclaimingprogressive
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were disclaimingprogressive
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had been disclaimingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of disclaim
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Anglo-French disclaimer, desclamer. See dis- 1, claim
Explanation
To disclaim is to deny, usually in order to avoid blame. If you push your brother and he trips and falls, you might disclaim responsibility for the action, saying he is just clumsy. If you decide to go skydiving, the company you dive with will likely you ask you to sign a disclaimer of liability. This is a form that says you will not sue the company if you injure yourself on the dive. In it, they disclaim liability for your undertaking this dangerous activity. Obligations to do something and product warranties can also be disclaimed which means that they will not be honored.
Vocabulary lists containing disclaim
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"Tinker v. Des Moines": Excerpts from Justice Black's Dissenting Opinion
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It’s not so unusual to disclaim an inheritance.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
Heirs have great freedom regarding what assets to disclaim, and how much.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026
Move the goalposts early and often so as to disclaim your wins and fudge your intentions.
From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2024
The network is an open source project and, like most such software, was created under terms that allow for free use and disclaim liability.
From New York Times ● Apr. 25, 2023
He then went on to disclaim that “any person who knew either of us could possibly believe that either meddled in that dirty work.”
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
He disclaims any effort to reverse or expunge the old case.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026
"It is only when she is tasked with answering for that involvement that she disclaims any connection."
From Salon ● Oct. 27, 2023
Jendrucko calls himself Dr. Lavender, even though, as the festival’s website disclaims, “Dr. Lavender is not a medical practitioner; he is just a guy who likes lavender.”
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 24, 2021
“The Board of Health disclaims any and all liability” stemming from the event, the board posted in response to plans for the event that features a parade, beer garden, and children’s events.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 29, 2020
He disclaims all purpose and desire to weaken the moral supports of any form of religion; as little purpose or desire to undermine Christianity, as to revive Judaism.
From The Cradle of the Christ A Study in Primitive Christianity by Octavius Brooks Frothingham
The heir has no freedom to designate the recipient of the disclaimed asset, as in, “I want this disclaimed amount to go to person X but not person Y.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026
“Once disclaimed, the timeshare passes according to the next instruction in the estate plan or intestacy law,” Allenby adds.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 16, 2026
The same student, however, later disclaimed his statement, according to authorities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2025
The BBC has established that the two title deeds for the site were "disclaimed" by the Treasury Solicitor in 2023.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2024
Miss Bennet eagerly disclaimed all extraordinary merit, and threw back the praise on her sister’s warm affection.
From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
Even if the stepmother leaves the house equally to your other siblings, disclaiming your share doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be asked to help out.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
For a disclaimer to be valid, the person disclaiming an asset must not have benefited from it, say, by spending the dividends from a stock.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026
Although disclaiming any such intent, the federal court here required a “historical twin” — that is, previous legislation that banned open carry.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 8, 2026
The Atman federation meanwhile described the situation to The Associated Press in an email as a “witch hunt,” disclaiming responsibility for the private lives of students and teachers at its member schools.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 2, 2023
Under Pendleton’s prodding, Hamilton agreed to a statement disclaiming any recollection of the conversation as recounted by Cooper.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
