disclosure

American  

[dih-skloh-zher] / dɪˈskloʊ ʒər /

noun

• disclosures
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• nondisclosure
  noun
• predisclosure
  noun
• self-disclosure
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• disclosures
  plural

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

See Examples For:

disclosure disclosures

He added that the health board had taken "a 'one-size-fits-all' approach when withholding information, failing to carefully consider the case for and against disclosure".

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

Nick previously covered corporate disclosure news for Dow Jones Newswires as a wires editor and reporter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

Her disclosure came as speculation mounts over her political future.

From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026

Among the allegations, the district accused Carvalho of repeatedly failing to list gifts and outside income on required disclosure forms.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

Even though he’d been leading up to this disclosure in the spirit of silliness, when he got to it, it didn’t feel silly.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

Since the disclosures, rating agencies Fitch, AM Best and S&P Global have downgraded the companies’ outlook to negative, but they also have said the insurers maintain a high level of financial strength.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

He said he wonders if investors read the full disclosures made by such solicitors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

He’s now part of a class-action lawsuit alleging National General set up its application process to discourage the required disclosures.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

What will is how much of each company’s wafer supply runs through China, which is what the disclosures below reveal.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026

I do not want it understood that the Catholic Church has advised me to make these public disclosures and confessions.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

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