The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word DIFFERS
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
D
I
F
F
E
R
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "disagrees" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case disagrees = differs.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does DIFFERS mean?
DIFFERS verb- Not to have the same traits or characteristics; to be unalike or distinct.
- (people, groups, etc.) To have diverging opinions, disagree.
- To be separated in quantity.