disclaim

From Middle English disclaimen, from Anglo-Norman disclaimer, from Old French desclamer (French déclamer), des- + clamer.

• IPA^(key): /dɪsˈkleɪm/
• Rhymes: -eɪm
• Hyphenation: dis‧claim

• Audio (UK):

  (file)

disclaim (third-person singular simple present disclaims, present participle disclaiming, simple past and past participle disclaimed)

1. (transitive) To completely renounce claims to; to deny ownership of or responsibility for^[1]

   Synonyms: disown, disavow, reject

   • 1697, Virgil, “The Seventh Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, page 424, lines 817–818:

     He calls the Gods to witness their offence, / Disclaims the War, asserts his Innocence.

   • 1755, Hugh Farmer, Essay on the Demoniacs of the New Testament:

     He disclaims the authority of Jesus.

   • 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter V, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume II, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 49:

     By heavens if ever you do it again. If ever you dare to show yourself in my house; or give my name at a gambling-house or at any other house, by Jove—at any other house—or give any reference at all to me, or speak to me in the street, by Gad, or any where else until I speak to you—I disclaim you altogether—I won’t give you another shilling.

   • 1901, W. W. Jacobs, The Monkey's Paw:

     "I was to say that Maw and Meggins disclaim all responsibility," continued the other. "They admit no liability at all, but in consideration of your son's services they wish to present you with a certain sum as compensation."

   • 2025 November 4, Thomas Kelly, “Debunking “When Prophecy Fails””, in Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, volume 62, number 1, →DOI, →ISSN, page 11:

     That her followers explicitly disclaim knowledge of 1954–55 also suggests that none of her earlier believers remained with her.

2. (transitive) To deny (e.g. claim); to refuse.
   • 1855, Henry Hart Milman, History of Latin Christianity‎^[1]:

     The payment was irregularly made, if not disclaimed.

3. (intransitive, transitive) (law) To relinquish or deny having a claim; to disavow another's claim; to decline accepting, as an estate, interest, or office.^[2]
4. (intransitive, transitive) To make a caveat or admission.
   • 2000 December 4, Michael Reuss, “Clambytes 2000 <Long!>”, in alt.religion.scientology‎^[2] (Usenet):

     I disclaim that there will be a lot of inside humor. If you don't read a.r.s often, or are a newbie, you won't get some of the gags.

   • 2017 July 28, Rick Rule, “1000% Gains: A Spectator's Guide to Private Placements with Rick Rule”, in Cambridge House:

     I have to disclaim conflicts of interest. I am a licensed securities person in the United States and that means that there are some things that I cannot do.

   • 2025 December 21, @MaskedTorah, X‎^[3]:

     I should disclaim that I'm not sure I've actually tried this with the more recent models.

• (renounce all claim to): disavow, disown, repudiate, renounce; See also Thesaurus:repudiate
• (deny as a claim): refuse
• (relinquish or deny having a claim):

• limacids, milacids