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

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

Put bluntly, beneficiaries, as you say, can disclaim an inheritance, but leaving it in the trust delays the problem.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 16, 2026

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

“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

Phineas would be the first to disclaim any great mental power in himself.

From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles

Related Words

• disavow
• disown