claim

A statement that something is true, especially when it has not yet been proved.

• There is no evidence for that claim.
• She denied his claims about the accident.
• Can you prove your claim that the treatment works?

How to use it: a claim that… (We investigated his claim that the water was unsafe.); a claim about something (She questioned the claims about the product.)

Similar words: assertion, statement, allegation

Common phrases: make a claim, false claim, claim that something

A right, or a reason for believing you have a right, to own or receive something.

• He has a claim to the property.
• Several relatives have competing claims on the estate.
• Her claim to the throne was stronger than his.

How to use it: a claim to something (Both families have a claim to the land.); a claim on something (She has a legal claim on the estate.)

Similar words: right, entitlement

Common phrases: claim to something, legal claim, strong claim

A demand that something be recognised as belonging to you.

• She made a claim to the painting.
• The court rejected both ownership claims.
• Their claim to the island remains disputed.

How to use it: a claim to something (The museum rejected his claim to the painting.)

Similar words: demand

Common phrases: claim of ownership, ownership claim, claim to something

Something, often land, that a person says belongs to them or that they have a right to.

• The miners worked their claim all summer.
• His claim lay beside the river.
• They sold their gold claim to a larger company.

Similar words: claimed property

Common phrases: mining claim, work a claim, valuable claim

A demand to own land that has not previously belonged to anyone.

• The miners staked a claim near the river.
• He registered his land claim at the office.
• Several prospectors made claims to the same unowned valley.

How to use it: stake a claim to something (The settlers staked a claim to the empty land.)

Similar words: land demand

Common phrases: stake a claim, land claim, mining claim

To say that something is true, often without showing any proof.

• He claims he is innocent.
• The company claimed that its product saved energy.
• Do you claim to have seen the accident?

How to use it: claim that… (She claims that she saw a wolf.); claim to do something (He claims to know the answer.)

Similar words: assert, maintain, allege

Opposites: deny

Common phrases: claim that something, claim to know, claim innocence

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

• You can claim your money back.
• Nobody claimed the bag left on the train.
• He claimed compensation for the damage.

How to use it: claim something from someone/something (You can claim the cost from your insurer.); claim something back (She claimed her travel expenses back.)

Similar words: demand, request

Common phrases: claim benefits, claim compensation, claim something back

If a disease or disaster does this, it causes someone to die.

• The fire claimed three lives.
• The disease has claimed many victims.
• Another crash claimed a life on that road.

Similar words: kill

Common phrases: claim a life, claim lives, claim more victims