What does disclose mean?
To disclose means to make something known that was previously secret, private, or unknown — especially through formal or official channels. Unlike everyday words such as "tell" or "share," disclose carries a tone of seriousness and often obligation: companies disclose financial results, witnesses disclose evidence, and officials disclose conflicts of interest. The word comes from the Latin root claudere, meaning "to close or shut," so disclosing is etymologically the act of un-shutting — opening what had been closed off. In modern usage it dominates legal, regulatory, and journalistic writing, appearing constantly in phrases like "required to disclose," "failure to disclose," and "full disclosure." Its derivatives are equally useful: disclosure names the act or the information itself, while disclosed describes what has been revealed. Because so much of modern life — finance, medicine, government — runs on transparency requirements, disclose is an essential word for anyone navigating formal English, and its precision makes it far more authoritative than looser alternatives like reveal or admit.
verbTo make (something secret or previously unknown) known to others; to reveal or uncover information, often formally or officially.
- To make secret or previously unknown information known, especially formally or as a matter of duty.
- (Law/finance) To reveal facts required by regulation, contract, or legal obligation.
"The company was legally required to disclose the breach to its shareholders within 24 hours."
"She refused to disclose the identity of her source, even under pressure from the court."
"Candidates must disclose any financial interests that could create a conflict of interest."
Every time you disclose something, you're literally 'closing the lid' on secrecy — the word comes straight from the Latin for shutting, flipped into opening.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of disclose
Disclose entered English in the early 15th century via Anglo-French desclos-, ultimately from the Latin dis- (apart) plus claudere (to close or shut). The same Latin root gave English words such as closet, clause, cloister, and recline, all carrying the core idea of enclosure. Over time the word narrowed from a general sense of opening or unfolding to its modern focus on revealing information.
Related word forms
How disclose is actually used
Register is formal to neutral; "disclose" is the standard verb in legal, financial, and journalistic contexts where "tell" or "share" would be too casual. It typically takes a direct object (the information revealed) and often an indirect object introduced by "to". It carries a neutral-to-serious connotation and frequently appears in contexts involving obligation rather than casual sharing.
Easily confused with disclose
"Dispose" means to get rid of something or arrange it in a particular way, while "disclose" means to reveal information that was hidden.