Meaning & use
disclosure
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Meanings
noununcountable
The act of making secret or private information known to others.
Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun when talking about the act in general: full disclosure of the facts.
Patterns
- disclosure of something
- full disclosure
- disclosure to someone
The disclosure of the emails caused a scandal.
She demanded full disclosure of the company's finances.
The disclosure to the public was delayed for weeks.
nouncountable
A fact or piece of information that is made known, especially when it was previously secret.
Grammar: Countable: you can talk about a disclosure or several disclosures.
Patterns
- a disclosure about something
- make a disclosure
- receive a disclosure
The report contained several shocking disclosures.
He made a disclosure about his past that surprised everyone.
New disclosures in the case are expected next week.
noununcountablelegalbusiness
The formal act of making information known, as required by law or regulation.
Grammar: Often used in legal and business contexts, frequently with 'full' or 'financial'.
Patterns
- financial disclosure
- disclosure requirements
- disclosure of information
The company failed to comply with disclosure requirements.
Financial disclosure is mandatory for all candidates.
The law requires full disclosure of any conflicts of interest.
Word forms
| plural | disclosures |
|---|
Common combinations
- full disclosure
- The contract requires full disclosure of all relevant facts.
- make a disclosure
- She made a disclosure to the police about the incident.
- disclosure of information
- The disclosure of information was authorized by the court.
- financial disclosure
- Politicians must file a financial disclosure each year.
- disclosure requirements
- The new regulations impose stricter disclosure requirements.
Synonyms and how they differ
- revelation
- Suggests something surprising or dramatic being made known; disclosure is more neutral and often formal or legal.
- announcement
- A public or official statement; disclosure often implies that the information was previously secret or private.
- admission
- Often implies admitting something wrong or embarrassing; disclosure can be neutral or required.
Opposites
Word family
- disclose verb
- To make secret information known.
- disclosed adjective
- Made known; revealed.
Commonly confused: disclosure or discloser?
disclosure vs discloser
A person who discloses information; not the same as disclosure, which is the act or fact itself.
Practice
The company was criticized for failing to make full ___ of its financial problems.
Choose one answer.
The phrase 'make full disclosure of' requires the noun disclosure. 'Disclose' is a verb and would need a different structure (e.g., 'to disclose its problems'); 'disclosing' and 'disclosed' are verb forms and do not fit after 'make full'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “disclosure”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.