claimant

Everyday

1. (law, money) A claimant is a person who says they have a right to something, such as money, land or a benefit, and asks for it officially. tree →
2. (UK) A person who receives or asks for government benefit money. tree →
3. (old use) A person who says they should be king or queen: a claimant to the throne. tree →

In the lessons

In adult life and the news, a claimant fills in forms to claim money from insurance or from the government; in court a claimant brings a case. In history, two claimants to the throne might fight. Phrases: «benefit claimant», «a claimant to the throne», «the claimant's case».

Examples

• Each claimant must fill in a long form. tree →
• The insurance company paid the claimant for the flood damage. tree →
• The claimant asked the court for money. tree →
• In history, there were two claimants to the throne. tree →
• Benefit claimants get help from the government. tree →
• The lost dog had three claimants, but only one had a photo! tree →
• The claimant said the land had been his grandmother's. tree →
• "The claimant," said she, "has stated the facts about our agreement correctly. tree →

Note

Countable, formal. Related: claim (verb, noun). In UK courts «claimant» replaced the older word «plaintiff» (still used in the USA).