Meaning & use
claims
Last updated
“claims” is a form of “claim”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
Statements that something is true, often made without proof and open to doubt.
Grammar: Plural of claim: the claims were false.
Patterns
- claims about something
- claims that something is true
The report examined claims that the new drink improves memory.
Her claims about the accident did not match the video.
Voters should check political claims before trusting them.
nounpluralbusiness
Formal requests for money or payment from an insurer or an organization because of a loss, injury or entitlement.
Grammar: Plural of claim: the insurer handled many claims.
Patterns
- claims for something
- claims against someone
The storm led to thousands of insurance claims.
He filed several claims for damage to his roof.
The office processes expense claims every Friday.
verbtransitive
States something as true, often when others might doubt it, or says one has a right to something.
Grammar: Third person singular: she claims to be an expert; takes a that-clause or to-infinitive.
Patterns
- claims that something
- claims to do something
- claims something
He claims that he never received the email.
The company claims to have the fastest delivery in town.
She claims the bicycle is hers because she bought it first.
Word forms
| singular noun | claim |
|---|---|
| past tense | claimed |
| -ing form | claiming |
Common combinations
- false claims
- The ad was banned for making false claims.
- insurance claims
- Insurance claims rise after every flood.
- make claims
- Be careful when you make claims you cannot prove.
- submit claims
- Staff must submit claims within thirty days.
- dispute claims
- Scientists disputed the claims in the study.
Synonyms and how they differ
- assertions
- Assertions are confident statements and sounds more formal than claims, with less sense of doubt.
- allegations
- Allegations are usually accusations of wrongdoing, whereas claims can be about anything.
- requests
- Requests is a gentle everyday word for asking, while claims for payment implies a right to be paid.
- demands
- Demands are stronger and more urgent than claims, and may not rely on a formal process.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: claims or clams?
claims vs clams
Clams are shellfish, and the spelling differs from claims by only one letter, the i.
Practice
The insurance company received hundreds of ____ after the hailstorm damaged cars across the town.
Choose one answer.
Claims are formal requests for payment, which is what insurers receive after storms. Clams are shellfish, and claimed is a verb form that cannot follow hundreds of.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “claims”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.