disclosure

American  

[dih-skloh-zher] / dɪˈskloʊ ʒər /

noun

1. the act or an instance of disclosing; exposure; revelation.

2. that which is disclosed; a revelation.

3. Patent Law. (in a patent application) the descriptive information imparted by the specification claims, drawings, and models submitted.

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disclosure British  

/ dɪsˈkləʊʒə /

noun

1. something that is disclosed

2. the act of disclosing; revelation

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Other Word Forms

• nondisclosure
  noun
• predisclosure
  noun
• self-disclosure
  noun

Etymology

Origin of disclosure

First recorded in 1590–1600; disclose + -ure

Compare meaning

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

• disclaimer vs. disclosure

Explanation

If you make a disclosure, you reveal information not previously known — either because it's new information or because it's been kept secret. Disclosure of new evidence at a trial could reveal that the accused is innocent of the crime. The noun disclosure derives from the Old French word desclos, meaning "open, exposed, plain, explicit." If you make a disclosure, you put something out in the open, usually information that was formally secret. After the disclosure of your huge credit card debt, your parents might make you get a job. The disclosure that nicotine is really addictive has motivated many people to quit smoking. The disclosure of one coworker's salary to another could lead to bitter jealousy.

Example Sentences

The three-part BBC Disclosure documentary Charmain and the prophet will begin on BBC Two at 22:00 on Monday 13 April.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Disclosure: Texas Public Policy Foundation has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

Disclosure of the case, and the positive tone from Beijing, adds to the evidence that bilateral ties between the U.S. and China are stabilizing ahead of Trump’s visit to Beijing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The company’s remediation plan includes updated training on disclosure controls, improved policies and procedures for information sharing, expanded responsibilities for the company’s Disclosure Committee, and an enhanced reporting hotline.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

Disclosure, rather than concealment, was a principle of Gothic design.

From Architecture Gothic and Renaissance by Smith, T. Roger (Thomas Roger)

Related Words

• acknowledgment
• admission
• confession
• discovery
• exposure
• leak
• publication