disclaimer

Etymology

It is borrowed from Anglo-Norman disclaimer (“disavowal, denial”),^{[2][3][4][5][6]} the Anglo-Norman infinitive desclamer, also disclaimer, "to disclaim", used as a noun,^[3][2][7][8] as in the legal terms attainder and remainder.^[7][8] In later use it is partly also formed from English disclaim + -er.^[3] The Anglo-Norman verb, recorded from 1292, meant to disavow a tenancy or ownership,^[9] and is formed from des- and clamer (“to claim”),^[10][2] from Latin clāmō (“to cry out, shout”).^[2][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

In feudal law, a formal denial or repudiation of a tenancy obligation, as by a vassal toward his lord: about 1436, in the Domesday of Ipswich.^[3][11][5]

Semantic evolution

The legal sense widened from feudal tenancy to any renunciation of a legal claim or interest, such as a refusal to accept an estate (1623),^[3] and in patent law to an amendment giving up part of a claimed invention (1829).^[3][12] In heraldry a disclaimer was a herald's proclamation against someone bearing arms without right (1666).^[3] The general sense, a denial of any claim or allegation, is recorded from Richardson's Clarissa (1748),^[3] and the now common sense, a statement that disowns responsibility, especially to avoid liability, from 1794.^[3] Johnson (1755) gave two senses: "one that disclaims", formed from the verb with the agent suffix, and the legal plea.^[13][7] The agent noun, a person who disclaims, is recorded from 1623.^[3][6]

Timeline

• c. 1436 – a feudal disavowal of a tenancy.^[3][11][5]
• 1623 – a renunciation of a legal claim or interest; also, a person who disclaims.^[3]
• 1666 – in heraldry, a herald's proclamation.^[3]
• 1748 – a denial of any claim or allegation.^[3]
• 1794 – a statement disowning responsibility.^[3]
• 1829 – in patent law, an amendment giving up part of a claim.^[3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A statement that disavows responsibility for something or connection with it, especially to avoid liability: The website carries a disclaimer about its health advice.^[3][14]
2. A denial or repudiation of a claim.^[14][3]
3. (law) A renunciation of a legal claim, title or interest, or a refusal to accept an estate or trust.^[12][3]
4. (law) A written amendment by which a patentee gives up parts of an invention mistakenly claimed.^[12][3]

Related words

• disclaim
• claim
• clamor
• exclaim
• proclaim

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (online 2024), 5th ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
5. ^ a b c Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
6. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
7. ^ a b c Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.
8. ^ a b c Weekley, Ernest (1921), An Etymological Dictionary of Modern English, London: John Murray
9. ^ Anglo-Norman Dictionary (AND2), Aberystwyth University, anglo-norman.net (2nd ed., 2005–)
10. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
11. ^ a b Kurath, Hans; Kuhn, Sherman M.; Lewis, Robert E., eds. (1952–2001), Middle English Dictionary, Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press; online edition ed. Frances McSparran et al. (2000–2018)
12. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
13. ^ Johnson, Samuel (1755), A Dictionary of the English Language, London; 4th ed. 1773; Johnson's Dictionary Online, ed. Beth Rapp Young et al.
14. ^ a b Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins