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.

---

disclosure British  

/ dɪsˈkləʊʒə /

noun

1. something that is disclosed

2. the act of disclosing; revelation

---

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

Disclosure on these deals, and many of the risks associated with them, is often less than fully transparent.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 29, 2026

Disclosure: New York Times and Southern Methodist University have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

From Salon • Jun. 25, 2026

Runner-up in the weekend box office take was the Stephen Spielberg-directed sci-fi thriller "Disclosure Day," which debuted the previous weekend.

From Barron's • Jun. 21, 2026

Dana Stevens just wrote about Disclosure Day, the new Steven Spielberg movie about aliens coming to Earth.

From Slate • Jun. 15, 2026

Disclosure of the arrangement and construction of the building was almost complete, and hardly a trace of concealment can be detected.

From Architecture Classic and Early Christian by Smith, T. Roger (Thomas Roger)

Related Words

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