Claims
/kleɪmz/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo state something as a fact, especially when it might be disputed.
/kleɪmz/
To state that something is true
He claims to be innocent.
💡 Simply: Imagine you found a lost puppy. If you say 'I claim this puppy!', you mean you think it's yours. To claim something is to say it belongs to you or is true, even if others might disagree.
👶 For kids: To say something is yours or is true.
More Examples
The company claims responsibility for the spill.
How It's Used
"He claims he was not at the scene of the crime."
"She claims to have seen a ghost."
A statement that something is true, especially when it needs to be proved.
/kleɪmz/
A statement that something is true
Her claim was rejected.
💡 Simply: A claim is like a request or a statement saying something is true, especially if it needs to be proven. For example, if your bike breaks, you make a claim to get it fixed.
👶 For kids: Saying something is true or that you want something.
More Examples
They have a strong claim to the property.
How It's Used
"He filed an insurance claim after the accident."
"The court dismissed her claim."
Idioms & expressions
lay claim to
To assert ownership or right to something.
"Several countries lay claim to that territory."
From Old French *clamer, from Latin clamare "to cry out, shout". The sense shifted from a loud assertion to a statement of right or ownership.
Historically, the word 'claim' strongly emphasized a loud and public declaration, reflecting its Latin origins. Modern usage is more nuanced, focusing on the assertion itself.
Memory tip
Think of someone 'claiming' a prize – they're stating it's theirs.