claim

/kleɪm/

verb

  1. to say that something is true, especially without proving it

    B1

    transitive; claim that + clause; claim to + infinitive

    • "He claims that he saw the accident."B1
    • "The company claims that its product is completely safe."B2
    • "The scientist claimed to have discovered a new element."B1

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

    B1

    transitive

    • "You can claim your luggage at the airport."B1
    • "She claimed her prize at the ceremony."B1
    • "She claimed compensation for the damage to her car."B2

  3. to officially request money from an insurance company or an organization

    B2

    transitiveformal

    • "I claimed on my insurance after the theft."B2
    • "The policyholder claimed reimbursement for the medical expenses."C1

noun

  1. a statement that something is true, although it may not have been proved

    B1

    countable

    • "His claim that he was ill was not true."B1
    • "The article makes several unsubstantiated claims about climate change."C1

  2. a request for money or another benefit that you have a right to receive

    B2

    countable

    • "We made a claim for the cost of the repairs."B2
    • "The insurer rejected her claim because the policy had expired."B2

  3. a legal or moral right to have or receive something

    B2

    countable

    • "He has no claim to the money."B2
    • "The two countries both have a claim to the disputed territory."C1

Common mistakes

  • He claims me that he is busy.→He claims that he is busy.

    Use claim that + clause, not claim someone that.

  • I did a claim for the damage.→I made a claim for the damage.

    The usual collocation is make a claim.

Collocations

claim thatmake a claimfile a claimsupport a claimreject a claimclaim compensationclaim on insuranceclaim responsibility

Word family

claimantclaimableunclaimedclaimer