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

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Etymology

Origin of disclosure

First recorded in 1590–1600; disclose + -ure

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Compare meaning

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

• disclaimer vs. disclosure

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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

Under the plain text of the Video Privacy Protection Act, Salazar should be able to hold Paramount liable for its disclosure of his video history.

From Slate ● Oct. 17, 2026

In her financial disclosure in February 2025, she reported liabilities including a boat loan valued at $100,000 to $250,000 and a mortgage valued at between $1 million and $5 million.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

Moving forward, the real policy challenge will revolve around transparency, the enforceability of existing laws and simply figuring out what type of disclosure would be helpful to voters.

From Salon ● Oct. 6, 2026

Shell was made president of Paramount less than three years after losing his job as NBCUniversal chief executive following the disclosure of an “inappropriate relationship” with an NBC employee.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

Full disclosure: I’m not used to girls not paying me any attention, and it’s bothering me a lot that Rae’s into Jupe instead of me.

From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone

These real-money portfolios — tracked via public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, disclosures and linked accounts — can be copied for a $9.99 monthly subscription fee.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

City Controller Kenneth Mejia sent a letter in August asking LA28 to provide more complete financial disclosures.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

The prosecution opposed the disclosures, saying they would have a "chilling effect" on the lone juror.

From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026

The company says it does not encourage customers to assume debt they cannot afford, provides disclosures explaining the risks of investing and has spent millions of dollars on compliance efforts.

From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026

The penalties for violating security regulations covering information judged to be sensitive had a distinctly militaristic cast, with fines of up to $300,000 and jail terms as long as thirty years for “willful” disclosures.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

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Related Words

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

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