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

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.

Example Sentences

If an IRA owner wants to maintain flexibility—and trusts the heirs’ judgment—he or she could leave them the IRA, and they could disclaim to the charity if appropriate.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

If all heirs disclaim, does the trust remain responsible for the property until it is sold, or would it revert to the timeshare company?

From MarketWatch • Mar. 16, 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

Related Words

• disavow
• disown