# claim

/ˈkɫeɪm/ (US) · /klˈeɪm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/claim
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to assert as true

verb · CEFR B1

to say that something is true, even though you have not proved it yet.

For teachers: to assert that something is the case, typically without providing immediate proof or evidence.

- He claims that he saw a ghost in the hallway, but nobody believes him.
- The company continues to claim that their product is environmentally friendly, despite several independent reports suggesting otherwise.

### 2. to demand a right

verb · CEFR B1

to ask for something because you believe it belongs to you or you have a right to it.

For teachers: to demand or request something as a right or as due to one.

- You can claim your travel expenses back from the company after the trip.
- After the storm damage, the homeowners moved quickly to claim compensation from their insurance provider for the structural repairs.

### 3. to cause death

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to cause the death of someone, usually during an accident or disaster.

For teachers: to result in the loss of life. Transitive use often found in news reporting.

- The heavy floods claimed three lives in the small village last night.
- The earthquake claimed thousands of lives and left the city's infrastructure in a state of total collapse.

### 4. a statement of truth

noun · CEFR B1

a statement that something is true, which might be doubted by others.

For teachers: an assertion of the truth of something, typically one that is disputed or in doubt.

- The government's claim that taxes would not rise was met with anger.
- Scientists are investigating the claim that this ancient herb can effectively treat modern viral infections.

### 5. legal/insurance demand

noun · CEFR B1

a formal request for money from an insurance company or the government.

For teachers: a formal request for something, typically money, to which one has a right.

- She filed a claim for the damage to her car after the accident.
- The legal team spent months preparing a claim for damages against the manufacturer for the faulty equipment.

## Examples

- The company made a claim about their new product.
- After the minor car accident, she filed a claim with her insurance provider to cover the repair costs.
- The historian's controversial claim regarding the origin of the document sparked a heated debate among scholars, as no primary evidence had previously supported such a theory.

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