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

As part of the 2026 budget, in an effort to improve the quality of rental properties, the tax relief which can be claimed for property maintenance by landlords could also increase.

From BBC

However, a legal row followed after Mr Smith claimed part-ownership due to the work he and his Bluebird Project team had carried out.

From BBC

Other charities have also told us they have had to feed hungry children from asylum hotels, and say they have seen women who claimed they had been given only seven sanitary towels per period.

From BBC

For decades Norris publicly denied involvement in the murder, giving no-comment interviews to police, and claiming he was innocent during his trial.

From BBC

These claimants require significant support from a work coach, including meeting weekly for the first 13 weeks of their claim, and either weekly or fortnightly after that.

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.