demonstration
Americannoun
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demonstrations
plural
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the act or circumstance of proving or being proved conclusively, as by reasoning or a show of evidence.
a belief incapable of demonstration.
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something serving as proof or supporting evidence.
They sent a check as a demonstration of their concern.
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a description or explanation, as of a process, illustrated by examples, specimens, or the like.
a demonstration of methods of refining ore.
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the act of exhibiting the operation or use of a device, machine, process, product, or the like, as to a prospective buyer.
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an exhibition, as of feeling; display; manifestation.
His demonstration of affection was embarrassing.
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a public exhibition of the attitude of a group of persons toward a controversial issue, or other matter, made by picketing, parading, etc.
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a show of military force or of offensive operations made to deceive an enemy.
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Mathematics. a logical presentation of the way in which given assumptions imply a certain result; proof.
noun
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the act of demonstrating
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proof or evidence leading to proof
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an explanation, display, illustration, or experiment showing how something works
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a manifestation of grievances, support, or protest by public rallies, parades, etc
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a manifestation of emotion
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a show of military force or preparedness
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maths a logical presentation of the assumptions and equations used in solving a problem or proving a theorem
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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counterdemonstrationnoun
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demonstrationistnoun
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predemonstrationnoun
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redemonstrationnoun
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subdemonstrationnoun
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superdemonstrationnoun
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demonstrationaladjective
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undemonstrationaladjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of demonstration
1325–75; Middle English demonstracioun < Latin dēmonstrātiōn- (stem of dēmonstrātiō, equivalent to dēmonstrāt ( us ) ( see demonstrate) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
A demonstration is a show, or display. If you are against war, you might go to an anti-war demonstration in front of the White House. You might need to see a demonstration of napkin folding before you take a job as a waitress. Dressing well for a job interview and showing up on time is considered a demonstration of your seriousness about the job. Crying is a demonstration of your feelings. If you sell website design you can make a demonstration site, or demo, so clients can see what they would get if they hired you.
Vocabulary lists containing demonstration
Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech (1963)
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Academic Vocabulary Toolkit 1, Words 31-40
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Twelve Days in May
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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.
See Examples For:
It is also a live demonstration of Dixon’s argument: When the rules change midstream, confusion does not merely accompany the process.
From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026
“That sucked! That was terrible,” one man said after going through a demonstration.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
The demonstration came as the first round of US-backed talks between Venezuela's interim government and parts of the opposition was wrapping up.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
Massive Attack's frontman Robert Del Naja was arrested earlier this year when he took part in a demonstration in London.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
This amazing demonstration set Robert Dale Owen on a path as a prominent investigator and spokesperson for the truth of Spiritualism.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
In some parts of the city, protesters regularly bang pots and pans in nighttime demonstrations known as cacerolazos.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
The first demonstrations will evaluate systems designed to survive the lunar night and other harsh conditions, including periods spent in shadow for multiple days.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026
When Netflix announced the first-ever Chef’s Table Food Festival, bringing 70 internationally acclaimed chefs to Park City for four days of dinners, demonstrations and excursions, I felt something between excitement and apprehension.
From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026
However it said that, despite this, it had recommended the businessman stay away from games because of the "potential for demonstrations and anti-social behaviour by some spectators".
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
His first call was to Lee DuBridge, a Caltech-trained physicist who had first met Lawrence in 1934 at one of the “vaudeville” demonstrations of radio-sodium.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
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.
