Disclose

Disclose is a transitive verb meaning to reveal or make information known that was previously private, secret, or not widely known. It can refer to facts, data, or opinions and is commonly used in formal, legal, business, and journalistic contexts. The noun form is disclosure, referring to the act or instance of disclosing.

Etymology traces to Old French descloser or desclore, from des- ‘un-’ + clos ‘closed’, with the sense of opening what was closed or hidden. The term entered English in the late Middle Ages and has since retained a sense of revealing information that was previously withheld.

Usage and nuance: disclose is typically followed by the information disclosed and the recipient (disclose X to Y). It often implies some duty or obligation, whether voluntary or mandated by law. In corporate and securities law, companies must disclose material information to investors. In privacy contexts, personal data may be disclosed only with consent or legal authority. A disclosure statement might reveal potential conflicts of interest or risk factors.

Relation to other terms: disclose contrasts with conceal, hide, or suppress, which imply keeping information from others. It is more formal than reveal and frequently appears in legal, regulatory, or official communications. Related terms include disclosure (the act or document), undisclosed (not disclosed), and discloser, though the latter is uncommon.