evidence
Americannoun
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that which tends to prove or disprove something; ground for belief; proof.
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something that makes plain or clear; an indication or sign.
His flushed look was visible evidence of his fever.
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Law. data presented to a court or jury in proof of the facts in issue and which may include the testimony of witnesses, records, documents, or objects.
- Synonyms:
- affidavit, deposition, information
verb (used with object)
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to make evident or clear; show clearly; manifest.
He evidenced his approval by promising his full support.
- Synonyms:
- demonstrate
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to support by evidence.
He evidenced his accusation with incriminating letters.
idioms
noun
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ground for belief or disbelief; data on which to base proof or to establish truth or falsehood
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a mark or sign that makes evident; indication
his pallor was evidence of ill health
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law matter produced before a court of law in an attempt to prove or disprove a point in issue, such as the statements of witnesses, documents, material objects, etc See also circumstantial evidence direct evidence
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(of an accomplice) to act as witness for the prosecution and testify against those associated with him in crime
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on display; apparent; conspicuous
her new ring was in evidence
verb
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to make evident; show clearly
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to give proof of or evidence for
Synonym Usage
Evidence, exhibit, testimony, proof refer to information furnished in a legal investigation to support a contention. Evidence is any information so given, whether furnished by witnesses or derived from documents or from any other source: Hearsay evidence is not admitted in a trial. An exhibit in law is a document or article that is presented in court as evidence: The signed contract is Exhibit A. Testimony is usually evidence given by witnesses under oath: The jury listened carefully to the testimony. Proof is evidence that is so complete and convincing as to put a conclusion beyond reasonable doubt: proof of the innocence of the accused.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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well-evidencedadjective
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preevidencenoun
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unevidencedadjective
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counterevidencenoun
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reevidenceverb (used with object)
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superevidencenoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have evidencedperfect
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has evidencedperfect 3rd person singular
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has been evidencingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is evidencingprogressive 3rd person singular
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evidencessingular 3rd person
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have been evidencingperfect progressive
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are evidencingprogressive
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evidencingparticiple
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am evidencingprogressive 1st person singular
Past
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had evidencedperfect
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had been evidencingperfect progressive
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was evidencingprogressive singular
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were evidencingprogressive plural
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evidencedsimple
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evidencedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of evidence
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English noun from Middle French, from Latin ēvidentia; see evident, -ence
Explanation
Evidence is anything that can be used to prove something — like the evidence presented in a trial, or the trail of bread crumbs that is evidence of the path Hansel took through the woods. The word evidence is derived from the Latin ēvidēnt-, meaning "obvious." The word evidence shows up frequently in legal documents and dramas, because evidence is necessary proof in linking someone to a crime or crime scene. Evidence is used in many ways to show that something is true, as in "the chocolate stains around your mouth and the crumbs on the table are evidence that you ate the last of the brownies."
Vocabulary lists containing evidence
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While astronomers and space scientists were initially skeptical about the planet nine theory, there has been mounting evidence thanks to increasingly powerful observations that the orbits of trans-Neptunian objects are indeed erratic.
From Science Daily • Jun. 9, 2026
She described being frustrated that Phillips did not have to attend court for the trial of facts and hear the evidence of his victims.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
A handgun was recovered at the apartment and will undergo forensic analysis alongside DNA and other evidence collected at the scene, Bland said.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
Another study published in May by University of Cincinnati economists Nathan Hudson and Hernan Moscoso Boedo found evidence of similar trends and on a global scale since 2007.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
I couldn’t believe the evidence of my nose.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
