disclaim

American  

[dis-kleym] / dɪsˈkleɪm /

verb (used with object)

1. to deny or repudiate interest in or connection with; disavow; disown.

   disclaiming all participation.

2. Law. to renounce a claim or right to.

3. to reject the claims or authority of.

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verb (used without object)

1. Law. to renounce or repudiate a legal claim or right.

2. Obsolete. to disavow interest.

disclaim British  

/ ˌdɪskləˈmeɪʃən, dɪsˈkleɪm /

verb

1. (tr) to deny or renounce (any claim, connection, etc)

2. (tr) to deny the validity or authority of

3. law to renounce or repudiate (a legal claim or right)

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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

• disclamation noun
• undisclaimed adjective

Etymology

Origin of disclaim

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Anglo-French disclaimer, desclamer. See dis- ¹, claim

Example Sentences

In that case, the daughter could disclaim all or part of the IRA and have it go directly to her children.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Upon her death, I am concerned about whether family members — none of whom want the timeshare — will be responsible for it, or if they can formally disclaim the property.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 16, 2026

“AFGE should have the best interests of the 700,000 employees they represent in mind, but there are still looming questions around your decision to disclaim interest in the National ICE Council,” Mr. Cloud wrote.

From Washington Times • Dec. 9, 2022

After you have estimated the cost of repairs and determined the equity and debt, you’ll be able to decide whether to keep the home, sell it, or disclaim the inheritance.

From Slate • Sep. 26, 2022

The juvenile population in America increased from 1994 to 2000, but the juvenile crime rate declined, leading academics who had originally supported the “super-predator” theory to disclaim it.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Related Words

• disavow
• disown