What do you call a claim?

What you call a claim depends on whether you refer to act of claiming or the claim itself and on context. In general language, you call a claim an assertion, statement, declaration, contention, or allegation when it is about truth. When it is about ownership or entitlement, you call it a demand, request, application, or petition. In law, you call a claim a cause of action, lawsuit, complaint, or action for relief, and the person who makes it is called claimant or plaintiff. In insurance, you call it an insurance claim, proof of loss, or claim for benefits. In everyday casual language, you might say calling dibs, staking a claim, or making a demand. For example, if someone says I claim I am right, you could say they are making an assertion, if they say I claim this land, you could say they are asserting ownership, and if they say I claim compensation, you could say they are filing a demand. So you call a claim by name that matches its purpose and formality.