direct evidence

American  

noun

1. evidence of a witness who testifies to the truth of the fact to be proved (contrasted with circumstantial evidence).

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direct evidence British  

noun

1. law evidence, usually the testimony of a witness, directly relating to the fact in dispute Compare circumstantial evidence

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Example Sentences

The findings provide some of the first direct evidence that salt clouds can exist in the atmosphere of a cold planetary object, confirming a prediction scientists first made more than 15 years ago.

From Science Daily • Jun. 28, 2026

The results provide direct evidence that the way atoms are organized inside a material can have a measurable influence on its electronic characteristics.

From Science Daily • Jun. 6, 2026

So far, there is no direct evidence that removing meat advertising from public spaces leads to a shift toward more plant-based societies.

From BBC • May 3, 2026

Beyond a handful of written statements, including one insisting the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, there is little direct evidence of his day-to-day control.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Archaeology provides us with direct evidence of culture in the form of pottery, pig and fish bones, and so on.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond