Claim vs. Proclaim — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on March 22, 2024
Claim involves stating a right to something or asserting something is true, while proclaim involves declaring something publicly, often officially or formally.
Difference Between Claim and Proclaim
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Key Differences
Claim often refers to asserting ownership or the right to something, like claiming a lost item at the lost and found. On the other hand, proclaim typically involves making a public or official announcement, such as a government proclaiming a new law.
Claim can also mean stating something is true, such as claiming that an idea was originally yours. Whereas, proclaim goes beyond merely stating to broadcasting a message widely, like proclaiming peace after a war.
Claims can be personal and require validation, like claiming a tax deduction. Proclamations, however, are usually authoritative declarations that are accepted as true, such as a monarch proclaiming a national holiday.
In legal contexts, to claim can involve formally asserting a right or demand in court, like claiming damages for an injury. Proclaim, in contrast, might be used to announce legal enactments or official decrees.
Claiming can be a private affair, with no need for public acknowledgment, like claiming responsibility for a success. Proclaiming, by its nature, seeks public acknowledgment, like proclaiming one's faith in a public ceremony.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To assert a right to something or state as true.
To announce something publicly, especially officially.
Context
Often personal, requiring validation.
Usually public and official, needing no further validation.
Legal Use
Involves legal assertions in court.
Used for announcing legal decrees or enactments.
Nature
Can be private or involve a small audience.
Inherently public, seeking widespread acknowledgment.
Example
Claiming a tax refund.
Proclaiming a new law.
Compare with Definitions
Claim
Asserting ownership or right.
She claimed her luggage at the airport.
Proclaim
Announcing something publicly.
The mayor proclaimed the festival open.
Claim
Demanding something as due.
They claimed compensation for the damages.
Proclaim
Declaring officially.
The government proclaimed a state of emergency.
Claim
Asserting a legal right.
The plaintiff claimed damages in the lawsuit.
Proclaim
Making a public assertion.
The activists proclaimed their demands.
Claim
Making a claim on an insurance policy.
After the accident, he claimed on his insurance.
Proclaim
Broadcasting a message widely.
The king proclaimed the new law throughout the kingdom.
Claim
Stating something as true.
He claimed he had never seen the document before.
Proclaim
Celebrating something publicly.
The community proclaimed the hero's return.
Claim
State or assert that something is the case, typically without providing evidence or proof
‘I'm entitled to be conceited,’ he claimed
Not every employee is eligible to claim unfair dismissal
The Prime Minister claimed that he was concerned about Third World debt
Proclaim
To announce officially and publicly; declare
Proclaim a general amnesty for political prisoners.
Proclaim the suspect to be guilty.
Claim
Formally request or demand; say that one owns or has earned (something)
If no one claims the items, they will become Crown property
Proclaim
To state emphatically or authoritatively; affirm
Proclaim one's opposition to an idea.
Claim
Cause the loss of (someone's life)
The attacks claimed the lives of five people
Proclaim
To indicate conspicuously; make plain
"A painted longbow jutting over his shoulder proclaimed his profession" (Arthur Conan Doyle).
Claim
An assertion that something is true
He was dogged by the claim that he had CIA links
Proclaim
To announce or declare.
Claim
A demand or request for something considered one's due
The court had denied their claims to asylum
Proclaim
To make [something] the subject of an official proclamation bringing it within the scope of emergency powers
Claim
To demand, ask for, or take as one's own or one's due
Claim a reward.
Claim one's luggage at the airport carousel.
Proclaim
To make known by public announcement; to give wide publicity to; to publish abroad; to promulgate; to declare; as, to proclaim war or peace.
To proclaim liberty to the captives.
For the apparel oft proclaims the man.
Throughout the host proclaimA solemn council forthwith to be held.
Claim
To take in a violent manner as if by right
A hurricane that claimed two lives.
Proclaim
To outlaw by public proclamation.
I heard myself proclaimed.
Claim
To state to be true, especially when open to question; assert or maintain
Claimed he had won the race.
A candidate claiming many supporters.
Proclaim
Declare formally; declare someone to be something; of titles;
He was proclaimed King
Claim
To deserve or call for; require
Problems that claim her attention.
Proclaim
State or announce;
`I am not a Communist,'
The King will proclaim an amnesty
Claim
A demand for something as rightful or due.
Proclaim
Affirm or declare as an attribute or quality of;
The speech predicated the fitness of the candidate to be President
Claim
A basis for demanding something; a title or right.
Proclaim
Praise, glorify, or honor;
Extol the virtues of one's children
Glorify one's spouse's cooking
Claim
Something claimed in a formal or legal manner, especially a tract of public land staked out by a miner or homesteader.
Claim
A demand for payment in accordance with an insurance policy or other formal arrangement.
Claim
The sum of money demanded.
Claim
A statement of something as a fact; an assertion of truth
Makes no claim to be a cure.
Claim
A demand of ownership made for something.
A claim of ownership
A claim of victory
Claim
The thing claimed.
Claim
The right or ground of demanding.
You don't have any claim on my time, since I'm no longer your employee.
Claim
A new statement of something one believes to be the truth, usually when the statement has yet to be verified or without valid evidence provided.
The company's share price dropped amid claims of accounting fraud.
Claim
A demand of ownership for previously unowned land.
Miners had to stake their claims during the gold rush.
Claim
(legal) A legal demand for compensation or damages.
Claim
To demand ownership of.
Claim
To state a new fact, typically without providing evidence to prove it is true.
Claim
To demand ownership or right to use for land.
Claim
(legal) To demand compensation or damages through the courts.
Claim
(intransitive) To be entitled to anything; to deduce a right or title; to have a claim.
Claim
To cause the loss of, usually by violent means.
The attacks claimed the lives of five people.
A fire claimed two homes.
Claim
(obsolete) To proclaim.
Claim
(archaic) To call or name.
Claim
To ask for, or seek to obtain, by virtue of authority, right, or supposed right; to challenge as a right; to demand as due.
Claim
To proclaim.
Claim
To call or name.
Claim
To assert; to maintain.
Claim
To be entitled to anything; to deduce a right or title; to have a claim.
We must know how the first ruler, from whom any one claims, came by his authority.
Claim
A demand of a right or supposed right; a calling on another for something due or supposed to be due; an assertion of a right or fact.
Claim
A right to claim or demand something; a title to any debt, privilege, or other thing in possession of another; also, a title to anything which another should give or concede to, or confer on, the claimant.
Claim
The thing claimed or demanded; that (as land) to which any one intends to establish a right; ; as, a settler's claim; a miner's claim.
Claim
A loud call.
Claim
An assertion of a right (as to money or property);
His claim asked for damages
Claim
An assertion that something is true or factual;
His claim that he was innocent
Evidence contradicted the government's claims
Claim
Demand for something as rightful or due;
They struck in support of their claim for a shorter work day
Claim
An informal right to something;
His claim on her attentions
His title to fame
Claim
An established or recognized right;
A strong legal claim to the property
He had no documents confirming his title to his father's estate
He staked his claim
Claim
A demand especially in the phrase
The call of duty
Claim
Demand as being one's due or property; assert one's right or title to;
He claimed his suitcases at the airline counter
Mr. Smith claims special tax exemptions because he is a foreign resident
Claim
Ask for legally or make a legal claim to, as of debts, for example;
They claimed on the maximum allowable amount
Claim
Lay claim to; as of an idea;
She took credit for the whole idea
Claim
Take as an undesirable consequence of some event or state of affairs;
The accident claimed three lives
The hard work took its toll on her
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to claim something?
To claim something means to assert ownership or state that something is true, often requiring validation or proof.
Can claim and proclaim be used interchangeably?
No, claim and proclaim serve different purposes; claim is more about asserting a right or truth, while proclaim is about making a public announcement.
How is proclaiming used in government?
Governments use proclaiming to announce new laws, decrees, or states of emergency, often with formal authority.
How does proclaim differ from claim?
Proclaim involves making a public or official announcement, often without the need for validation, unlike claiming, which usually requires proof.
How do cultural contexts affect proclamations?
Cultural contexts can influence the reception and significance of proclamations, affecting their formality and impact.
Is proclaiming always a formal act?
Proclaiming is often formal and official but can also be informal, depending on the context and audience.
What are some common contexts for claiming?
Claiming is common in legal, personal property, and truth assertion contexts, requiring validation or proof.
Do claims always need to be proven?
Claims often require proof or validation, especially in legal contexts or when disputing facts.
What's an example of a formal proclamation?
A formal proclamation could be a government declaring a new public holiday or a royal decree.
How do claims impact legal proceedings?
In legal proceedings, claims form the basis of lawsuits or demands for rights, requiring adjudication.
Can an individual proclaim something?
Yes, individuals can proclaim things, like beliefs or achievements, usually seeking public acknowledgment.
Can a proclamation be retracted?
Proclamations can be retracted or amended, especially if issued by authoritative bodies like governments.
Is claiming a passive activity?
Claiming is not necessarily passive; it often involves active steps to assert rights or truth.
Can anyone issue a proclamation?
While anyone can make a proclamation, its authority and recognition depend on the issuer's status and the context.
What legal rights are associated with claiming?
Claiming can involve various legal rights, such as property claims, intellectual property rights, or compensation demands.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
