claim

[kleym]

verb (used with object)

1. to demand by or as by virtue of a right; demand as a right or as due.

   to claim an estate by inheritance.

2. to assert and demand the recognition of (a right, title, possession, etc.); assert one's right to.

   to claim payment for services.

3. to assert or maintain as a fact.

   She claimed that he was telling the truth.

4. to require as due or fitting.

   to claim respect.

verb (used without object)

1. to make or file a claim.

   to claim for additional compensation.

noun

1. a demand for something as due; an assertion of a right or an alleged right.

   He made unreasonable claims on the doctor's time.

   Synonyms: call, requisition, request

2. an assertion of something as a fact.

   He made no claims to originality.

3. a right to claim or demand; a just title to something.

   His claim to the heavyweight title is disputed.

4. something that is claimed, especially a piece of public land for which formal request is made for mining or other purposes.

5. a request or demand for payment in accordance with an insurance policy, a workers' compensation law, etc..

   We filed a claim for compensation from the company.

claim

/ kleɪm /

verb

1. to demand as being due or as one's property; assert one's title or right to

   he claimed the record

2. (takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to assert as a fact; maintain against denial

   he claimed to be telling the truth

3. to call for or need; deserve

   this problem claims our attention

4. to take

   the accident claimed four lives

noun

1. an assertion of a right; a demand for something as due

2. an assertion of something as true, real, or factual

   he made claims for his innocence

3. a right or just title to something; basis for demand

   a claim to fame

4. to assert one's possession of or right to

5. anything that is claimed, esp in a formal or legal manner, such as a piece of land staked out by a miner

6. law a document under seal, issued in the name of the Crown or a court, commanding the person to whom it is addressed to do or refrain from doing some specified act former name writ 1

7. 1. a demand for payment in connection with an insurance policy, etc

   2. the sum of money demanded

Other Word Forms

• claimable adjective
• claimless adjective
• misclaim verb (used with object)
• nonclaimable adjective
• overclaim verb (used with object)
• preclaim verb (used with object)
• superclaim noun
• unclaimed adjective
• unclaiming adjective
• claimer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of claim¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (verb) Middle English claimen, from Anglo-French, Old French claimer, from Latin clāmāre “to cry out”; (noun) Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French cla(i)me; the noun is derivative of the verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of claim¹

C13: from Old French claimer to call, appeal, from Latin clāmāre to shout

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. lay claim to, to declare oneself entitled to.

   I have never laid claim to being an expert in tax laws.

More idioms and phrases containing claim

• lay claim to
• stake a claim

Synonym Study

See demand.

Example Sentences

That depends on how a young kid might feel about a clunky appliance with flexible duct hose for arms, and whose main claim to fame is screaming, “Danger, Will Robinson!”

From Salon

A group of young hackers who have been behind other attacks on UK businesses including M&S earlier this year have also claimed responsibility for the JLR attack.

From BBC

Less than three weeks later, the family returned home, with the father claiming they had been on a camping trip.

From BBC

The club had mounted a legal challenge against the Premier League, claiming new rules were "unlawful".

From BBC

Wallace and Torode had hosted the show for 20 years, but were axed in July after a report upheld claims against them.

From BBC

Related Words

• allege 
• ask 
• assert 
• believe 
• call for 
• challenge 
• collect 
• declare 
• defend 
• hold 
• insist 
• need 
• take 

When To Use

What does claim mean?

To claim something is to maintain that the something is a fact, as in The company claims its product cures hiccups.A claim is the assertion of a fact, as in The claim that Shayna has a beautiful voice was proved when she began to sing.To claim is also to demand one’s right to something, such as to claim payment for a service given.As a noun, this claim can be the demand for that something, such as a claim on your time.Example: My ancestors laid claim to this land decades ago and I don't plan on letting it go any time soon.