demonstration

[dem-uhn-strey-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or circumstance of proving or being proved conclusively, as by reasoning or a show of evidence.

   a belief incapable of demonstration.

2. something serving as proof or supporting evidence.

   They sent a check as a demonstration of their concern.

3. a description or explanation, as of a process, illustrated by examples, specimens, or the like.

   a demonstration of methods of refining ore.

4. the act of exhibiting the operation or use of a device, machine, process, product, or the like, as to a prospective buyer.

5. an exhibition, as of feeling; display; manifestation.

   His demonstration of affection was embarrassing.

6. a public exhibition of the attitude of a group of persons toward a controversial issue, or other matter, made by picketing, parading, etc.

7. a show of military force or of offensive operations made to deceive an enemy.

8. Mathematics.,  a logical presentation of the way in which given assumptions imply a certain result; proof.

demonstration

/ ˌdɛmənˈstreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of demonstrating

2. proof or evidence leading to proof

3. an explanation, display, illustration, or experiment showing how something works

4. a manifestation of grievances, support, or protest by public rallies, parades, etc

5. a manifestation of emotion

6. a show of military force or preparedness

7. maths a logical presentation of the assumptions and equations used in solving a problem or proving a theorem

Other Word Forms

• demonstrationist noun
• demonstrational adjective
• counterdemonstration noun
• predemonstration noun
• redemonstration noun
• subdemonstration noun
• superdemonstration noun
• undemonstrational adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of demonstration¹

1325–75; Middle English demonstracioun < Latin dēmonstrātiōn- (stem of dēmonstrātiō, equivalent to dēmonstrāt ( us ) ( demonstrate ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The government has recently announced other changes including allowing police officers to instruct protest organisers to hold events in a different place, if a site has been the location of repeated demonstrations.

Read more on BBC

By midday, police said 80,0000 protesters had joined the demonstration in the Belgian capital.

Read more on BBC

Youth-led protests have rocked the Indian Ocean island since September 25, ignited by anger over power and water shortages and developing into demonstrations against the president and ruling elite.

Read more on Barron's

A century ago, we did not have millions of people in the streets like we had in the No Kings demonstrations, and we will have again, I hope.

Read more on Salon

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations surged in the spring of that year with encampments where activists demanded campus policy changes, including U.S. university divestment of billions of dollars from weapons companies.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• expression 
• manifestation 
• presentation 
• show 
• test 
• testimony 
• trial