disclosure
The action of making new or secret information known; in CSR, the formal release of data regarding environmental or social performance.
Disclosure is often a legal requirement (like financial disclosure), but in CSR, 'voluntary disclosure' is a sign of a company's commitment to transparency.
Word relationships
- revelation: A surprising and previously unknown fact that has been disclosed.
- divulgence: The act of making known private or sensitive information.
- concealment: The action of hiding something or preventing it from being known.
- secrecy: The state of being kept secret.
Commonly confused with
- transparency: Transparency is the state of being open; disclosure is the specific act of opening the books.
Word family
- disclose (verb): To make secret information known.
Collocations
- full disclosure
- mandatory disclosure
- voluntary disclosure
- disclosure requirements
Example sentences
- "The disclosure of financial information is mandatory for public companies to protect investors." The SEC mandates certain reports for all public companies.
- "Full disclosure of carbon emissions is now expected by major institutional investors." The tech firm released a report on its diversity statistics.
Memory hook
Think of 'Dis-Closure' as 'Dis-ing' (undoing) the 'Closure' (the closing of a file). You are opening the file for everyone. Opening the closed books.
When not to use
Don't use 'disclosure' for a casual secret shared between friends; use 'revelation' or 'confession.'
Fun facts
- The 'Carbon Disclosure Project' (CDP) is a global non-profit that runs the world's leading environmental disclosure system.
Related words
Explore more words
disclose, exposé, transparency, discourse, whistleblower, confide
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