disclaimer

American  

[dis-kley-mer] / dɪsˈkleɪ mər /

noun

disclaimers plural

1. the act of disclaiming; the renouncing, repudiating, or denying of a claim; disavowal.

2. a person who disclaims.

3. a statement, document, or assertion that disclaims responsibility, affiliation, etc.; disavowal; denial.

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disclaimer British  

/ dɪsˈkleɪmə /

noun

1. a repudiation or denial

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Usage

What does disclaimer mean? A disclaimer is 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 deny responsibility. Example: The disclaimer at the bottom of the page says that this information should be used for entertainment purposes only.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• disclaimers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of disclaimer

1400–50; late Middle English < Anglo-French: to disclaim

Compare meaning

How does disclaimer compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• disclaimer vs. disclosure

Explanation

A disclaimer is a statement that rejects a legal claim. If you're speaking on Russian history and don't want to be quoted, offer a disclaimer that all your information comes from Wikipedia and you're not responsible for its accuracy. A claim is the assertion that you have a right to something, so a disclaimer is the opposite: the rejection of a claim. If you don't want to keep the money you're inheriting, you can file a disclaimer and pass all the money on to a charity. Although disclaimer comes from talking about legal claims, we also use it in general to mean "denial" or "repudiation."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

disclaimer disclaimers

“If an unwanted inheritance is anticipated from a family member, it might be beneficial to use a qualified disclaimer to reject the bequest,” says Baker Tilly, a New York-based advisory, tax and assurance firm.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026

Rather than rushing to validate the president’s claims, chief political anchor Bret Baier immediately offered a stark, legally cautious disclaimer to his audience.

From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026

WalesOnline said it initially refused to publish without a disclaimer that much of the article was misleading.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

The sales manager at the dealership explained that the online price is based on “eligible discounts” that, as detailed in a disclaimer on the site, not everyone qualifies for.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

I was permitted to reissue the book only on condition that a disclaimer was included, assuring Muggle readers that it was a work of fiction.

From "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" by J.K. Rowling

"Healthcare companies have a responsibility to keep their public claims accurate and current -- ineffective, fine-print disclaimers do not fix the misleading impression created by major national campaigns."

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

"Healthcare companies have a responsibility to keep their public claims accurate and current - ineffective, fine-print disclaimers do not fix the misleading impression created by major national campaigns," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

Ghosh is now the director of campaign finance reform at the nonprofit Campaign Legal Center, which has filed a petition asking the FEC to require disclaimers on paid content created by influencers.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 24, 2026

Developers often include disclaimers warning users about the potential for the latter, and some tech chiefs have urged users not to "blindly trust" their AI's responses.

From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2026

As soon as we get off the bus, Sam starts giving me disclaimers and warnings.

From "Piecing Me Together" by Renée Watson

Related Words

• clause
• retraction
• waiver