corroborate

[kuh-rob-uh-reyt, kuh-rob-er-it]

verb (used with object)

corroborated, corroborating 

1. to make more certain; confirm.

   He corroborated my account of the accident.

   Synonyms: validate, support, authenticate, verify

adjective

1. Archaic.,  confirmed.

corroborate

/ kəˈrɒbərətɪv /

verb

1. (tr) to confirm or support (facts, opinions, etc), esp by providing fresh evidence

   the witness corroborated the accused's statement

adjective

1. serving to corroborate a fact, an opinion, etc

2. (of a fact) corroborated

Other Word Forms

• corroborative adjective
• corroboratory adjective
• corroboratively adverb
• corroboratorily adverb
• corroborator noun
• noncorroborating adjective
• noncorroborative adjective
• noncorroboratively adverb
• noncorroboratory adjective
• uncorroborated adjective
• uncorroborative adjective
• uncorroboratively adverb
• uncorroboratory adjective
• corroboration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of corroborate¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin corrōborātus, past participle of corrōborāre “to strengthen,” equivalent to cor- “with, together” + rōbor(āre) “to make strong” (derivative of rōbor, rōbur “oak” hence, “strength”) + -ātus past participle suffix; cor-, robust, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of corroborate¹

C16: from Latin corrōborāre to invigorate, from rōborāre to make strong, from rōbur strength, literally: oak

Example Sentences

He said the paper had produced "no contemporaneous record or corroborating evidence to support these disputed recollections from nearly 50 years ago".

Read more on Barron's

Prosecutors also have plea deals with two of the primary suspects in the case, in which they corroborate some of the allegations.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab said satellite imagery corroborated the reports, apparently showing blood on the ground and white grouped objects that looked like bodies in the hospital compound.

Read more on BBC

The department claimed to have found corroborating evidence, but did not elaborate.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The increase in U.A.E. weapons deliveries was corroborated by Libyan, Egyptian and European officials familiar with the situation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• authenticate 
• confirm 
• justify 
• substantiate 
• validate 
• verify