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Law vocabulary · Lawsuits & Procedure

Claim

Meaning in law, with examples

/kleɪm/nounCore term

In law, claim means: A formal demand for money, property or another remedy, especially one made in court; also a statement that something is true which has not yet been proved.

In Turkish: talep, dava, alacak, iddia

How it is used

In England and Wales a civil case is usually called a 'claim' and starts with a 'claim form'. You 'bring', 'make', 'file' or 'settle' a claim, and a court can 'strike out' or 'dismiss' it. As a verb: 'claim damages', 'claim that…'.

Example sentences

  1. Our client claims that the goods were defective on delivery.

  2. The insurer rejected the claim because the policy had expired.

  3. We expect to issue the claim at the end of March.

Common collocations

  • bring a claim
  • file a claim
  • settle a claim
  • claim form
  • strike out a claim
  • lawsuitA claim that one person or company brings against another in a civil court, usually asking for money or for an order to stop something.
  • plaintiffThe person or company that starts a civil case in court against someone else and asks the court for a remedy.
  • caseA legal dispute that a court deals with, or an earlier court decision that lawyers refer to; also the facts and arguments that one side presents.
  • fileTo officially give a document to a court or public office so that it becomes part of the record, for example to start a case or to answer one.
  • damagesMoney that a court orders one party to pay another as compensation for loss or harm caused by a breach of contract or another legal wrong.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Lawsuits & Procedure

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.