What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
disavow
Example
The company disavowed any knowledge of the illegal activities of its employees. [disavowed: past tense]
Example
The politician disavowed his previous statements on immigration. [disavow: verb]
disclaim
Example
The manufacturer disclaimed any liability for damages caused by misuse of their product. [disclaimed: past tense]
Example
The author disclaimed any resemblance between the characters in the book and real people. [disclaim: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Disclaim is more commonly used than disavow in everyday language. Disclaim is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while disavow is less common and refers to a more specific type of denial.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between disavow and disclaim?
Both disavow and disclaim are formal words that are often used in legal or official contexts. However, disavow can also be used in a moral or ethical context, while disclaim is more focused on legal liability.
