I. claim 1 S1 W1 /kleɪm/ BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: clamer , from Latin clamare 'to cry out, shout' ]
1 . TRUTH [transitive] to state that something is true, even though it has not been proved
claim (that)
The product claims that it can make you thin without dieting.
claim to do/be something
No responsible therapist will claim to cure your insomnia.
I don’t claim to be a feminist, but I’d like to see more women in top jobs.
claim to have done something
The girls claim to have seen the fairies.
claim responsibility/credit (for something) (=say officially that you are responsible for something that has happened)
The group claimed responsibility for the bombings.
Opposition leaders will claim victory if the turnout is lower than 50%.
claim somebody/something as something
A letter appeared in ‘The Times’ claiming Fleming as the discoverer of penicillin.
2 . MONEY [intransitive and transitive] to officially demand or receive money from an organization because you have a right to it
claim something back
He should be able to claim the price of the ticket back.
claim on British English :
You can claim on the insurance if you have an accident while on holiday.
claim benefit/an allowance/damages etc
If you’re still not satisfied, you may be able to claim compensation.
3 . LEGAL RIGHT [transitive] to state that you have a right to take or have something that is legally yours:
The majority of those who claim asylum are genuine refugees.
Lost property can be claimed between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
4 . DEATH [transitive] if a war, accident etc claims lives, people die because of it – used especially in news reports:
The earthquake has so far claimed over 3,000 lives.
5 . ATTENTION [transitive] if something claims your attention, you notice and consider it carefully:
The military conflict continues to claim our undivided attention.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ claim responsibility (=say that you are responsible for something bad)
Following the attack, a man phoned a newspaper claiming responsibility.
▪ claim credit (=say that you are responsible for something good)
Political parties always claim credit for economic growth.
▪ claim victory (=say that you are the winner)
The election results were in and the President was able to claim victory.
▪ claim descent (=say that you are related to someone important who lived a long time ago)
He claimed descent from Beethoven.
■ adverbs
▪ wrongly/rightly
This hotel can rightly claim that it has some of the best views on the island.
▪ falsely/rightfully (=wrongly/rightly)
Some manufacturers falsely claim that their products are environmentally friendly.
▪ justifiably (=with good reasons)
They can justifiably claim to be the top team in the country.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ claim to say that something is true, even though it has not been proved:
He claims that he didn’t see anything.
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She claims to be a descendant of Charles Dickens.
▪ allege to claim that someone did something wrong or illegal, although you do not give any proof:
It is alleged that he murdered his wife.
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Patients allege that the two firms failed to warn doctors about the dangers of taking the drugs over a long period.
▪ maintain to repeatedly say that something is true, especially when other people do not believe you:
He continued to maintain his innocence, even after he was sent to prison.
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My mother always maintains that I learned to talk at six months.
▪ insist to say very firmly that something is true:
She insists that Tom was there, although he denies it.
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Turkey insists that there is more than enough water in the two rivers for all three countries.
▪ assert formal to state that something is true – used especially in formal writing when reporting someone’s opinion:
They assert that children work better on their own.
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The Environment Minister asserted that one third of the country’s cities had major pollution problems.
▪ contend formal to claim that something is true, especially when other people disagree with you:
Lawyers contend that his back problems were due to an existing injury, not the accident.
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It is possible, as Kennedy contends, that her medical condition is caused by her work.
II. claim 2 S2 W1 BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . TRUTH a statement that something is true, even though it has not been proved
claim that
Gould rejected claims that he had acted irresponsibly.
false/extravagant/dubious etc claims
firms that make false claims about their products
They made claims they couldn’t live up to.
the competing claims of scientists
dispute/deny/reject a claim
The police denied claims that the men were tortured.
Evidence to support these claims is still lacking.
claim to do/be something
his claim to be the rightful owner of the painting
I make no claim to understand the complexities of the situation.
2 . MONEY
a) an official request for money that you think you have a right to
claim for
claims for compensation
reject/uphold/lose etc a claim
He lost his claim for unfair dismissal.
make/put in/file a claim
All claims should be made in writing.
pay/wage claim (=a request from workers for more money)
Fill in and return the claim form as soon as it arrives.
b) the sum of money you request when you make a claim:
The insurance company cannot meet (=pay) such enormous claims.
3 . RIGHTS a right to do something or to have something, especially because it belongs to you or because you deserve it
claim to/on
Surely they have a rightful claim on their father’s land?
The Maldives pressed its claim to hold the summit.
Philip feared Edward would lay claim to the Scottish crown.
the competing claims of parents and teachers
have a claim on sb’s time/attention etc
A woman who has given a man children will always have a claim on his love.
4 . stake your claim (for something) to say that you have a right to own or do something, especially when other people also say they have a right to it:
Tickets are on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, so stake your claim now.
5 . sb’s/sth’s claim to fame a place or person’s claim to fame is the reason why they are famous – often used humorously to mention something that is not very important:
My main claim to fame is that I once shook Madonna’s hand.
6 . LAND something such as a piece of land that contains valuable minerals
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ false
His claims were later found to be false.
▪ unfounded/unsubstantiated (=not based on truth or evidence)
These claims of discrimination are completely unfounded.
▪ extravagant claims (=clearly not true)
Some manufacturers make extravagant claims for their products.
▪ competing claims
the competing claims of the political parties
▪ conflicting claims (=saying that different things are true)
The reports contained conflicting claims of the number of people killed.
■ verbs
▪ make a claim
He made extravagant claims about the benefits of the diet.
▪ deny a claim (=say it is not true)
Government officials denied claims that the country possessed chemical weapons.
▪ dispute/reject a claim (=say it is not true)
The Prime Minister rejected claims of a disagreement within his party.
▪ support a claim
The court found no evidence to support her claim.
▪ back up a claim (=support it)
They challenged him to back up his claims with evidence.
▪ accept a claim
Many scientists were reluctant to accept his claims.
▪ challenge a claim (=say that you do not believe it is true)
Washington continued to challenge the claim that global warming is partly caused by carbon dioxide.
▪ investigate a claim
Detectives are investigating claims that the two officials took bribes.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ claim a statement that something is true, even though it has not been proved:
It is difficult to believe some of the manufacturer's claims for its products.
▪ allegation a statement that someone has done something wrong or illegal, but that has not been proved:
He has strongly denied the allegations of sexual harassment.
▪ assertion formal something that you say or write that you strongly believe:
the assertion that house prices are falling
▪ contention formal a strong opinion that someone expresses:
Her main contention is that doctors should do more to encourage healthy eating.