disclaim
/dɪsˈkleɪm/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪsˈkleɪm/ (ame, ipa) · /dis-ˈklām/ (ame, mw)
disclaim — verb
- disclaimpresent simple I / you / we / they
- disclaimshe / she / it
- disclaimedpast simple
- disclaiming-ing form
1. to state clearly that you were not involved in something or that you are not acc
to state clearly that you were not involved in something or that you are not accountable for it, especially when others might think otherwise.
The company issued a statement to disclaim any responsibility for the oil spill.
disclaim + any responsibility for [event]
Omar disclaimed all knowledge of the missing documents during the investigation.
disclaim + all knowledge of [something]
When asked about the leaked report, the minister quickly disclaimed any connection to it.
Neither parent would disclaim involvement, so the school held both of them accountable for the damage.
The publisher disclaimed liability for the opinions expressed in the article.
- acknowledge
to accept or admit responsibility or involvement
- claim
to assert responsibility, credit, or ownership
文法句型
disclaim + noun phrase (responsibility, knowledge, involvement)
用法筆記
Common in formal or legal contexts such as company statements, official investigations, and public apologies. The object is typically an abstract noun like 'responsibility', 'knowledge', 'involvement', or 'liability'.
常見錯誤
2. to give up a legal right or claim to something such as property, an inheritance,
to give up a legal right or claim to something such as property, an inheritance, or a title in a formal and binding way.
Haruki disclaimed his share of the inheritance so that his younger sister could receive the full amount.
disclaim + [possessive] share of [inheritance]
The widow signed a document to disclaim any interest in her late husband's estate.
By choosing to disclaim the patent rights, the inventor allowed the technology to remain open to everyone.
Kwame decided to disclaim his claim to the family property rather than enter a long legal battle.
A beneficiary who disclaims an inheritance is treated as if they died before the person who left the money.
- renounce
near-synonym in legal contexts; 'renounce' can also imply moral or personal rejection, while 'disclaim' is strictly procedural
- relinquish
slightly less formal but still common in legal discussion; suggests letting go of something held
- waive
used specifically for voluntarily giving up a right or privilege, often in a legal or contractual setting
文法句型
disclaim + noun phrase (claim, right, interest, title)
passive: be disclaimed by [someone]
用法筆記
This sense belongs almost exclusively to legal or financial contexts. 'Disclaim' in this sense often appears in passive constructions or with a formal written document. Distinguish from sense 1 (DENY RESPONSIBILITY), where the focus is on rejecting blame rather than relinquishing a right.