disclosure
C1Formal, Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The act of making secret or private information known; something that is disclosed.
1. The legal or ethical requirement to reveal information (e.g., financial disclosure). 2. A piece of surprising or impactful information that has been revealed.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically refers to an intentional or official act of revealing. Often carries a nuance of importance or confidentiality surrounding the information.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major spelling or usage differences. Slight variance in legal phrasing (e.g., 'non-disclosure agreement' vs. 'nondisclosure agreement' in AmE).
Connotations
Similar connotations of formality and legal/business contexts in both varieties.
Frequency
High frequency in legal, business, and journalistic contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
disclosure of [information/interest/facts]disclosure by [person/entity]disclosure to [recipient/public]disclosure that [clause]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A full and frank disclosure”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The annual report requires full financial disclosure from all directors.
Academic
The study examines the effects of self-disclosure on therapeutic outcomes.
Everyday
Her disclosure about her past surprised all her friends.
Technical
The software flaw led to an unintended data disclosure.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The law requires companies to disclose their carbon emissions.
American English
- The witness refused to disclose what he had seen.
adverb
British English
- The report was disclosed publicly yesterday.
American English
- The data was not disclosed properly to investors.
adjective
British English
- The company faced a disclosure order from the tribunal.
American English
- She signed a nondisclosure agreement before the meeting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The newspaper published a shocking disclosure about the mayor.
- You must sign this form before we can make any disclosure.
- The new regulations mandate greater disclosure of political donations.
- His disclosure of the confidential source put the investigation at risk.
- The judge ordered the full disclosure of all evidence relevant to the case.
- Ethical scientific practice requires the disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DIS-CLOSE-URE. To 'dis-close' something is to open it up, and '-ure' makes it the noun for the act of doing so.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISCLOSURE IS OPENING A CONTAINER (secrets are inside). DISCLOSURE IS REMOVING A COVER.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation from 'раскрытие' in all contexts; 'disclosure' is more formal and specific than general 'revealing'.
- Do not confuse with 'discovery' ('открытие' or 'обнаружение'). 'Disclosure' is about making known, not finding out.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'disclosure' for casual sharing of non-sensitive information (overly formal).
- Misspelling as 'disclousure'.
- Confusing 'disclosure' with 'exposure' (which can imply vulnerability).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'disclosure' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. While often involving confidential or sensitive info, it can be neutral, like 'disclosure of one's interests' on a form. The context defines the nature of the information.
'Disclosure' is more formal, often intentional or required, and common in official/legal contexts. 'Revelation' can be more dramatic, surprising, and sometimes accidental or divine.
No. The verb form is 'disclose'. 'Disclosure' is only a noun.
Yes, particularly in psychology, counselling, and communication studies, referring to the act of revealing personal information about oneself to others.
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