evidential
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of evidential
Explanation
Evidential is an adjective that means serving as evidence. The receipt for the stolen blue suede shoes would be evidential proof of what you paid for the shoes when you bought them from the Elvis estate. Often used as a legal term, evidential is sometimes paired with the words "proof," "burden," or "hearing." Like many legal words, this one comes from medieval Latin (in this case, evidentialis). Lop off the last two letters and you have the English word. If a Roman took an Englishman to court for lopping at the words in his language, though, he'd need to show some evidential proof that the Englishman was guilty.
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.
Rowe said the fact the complaints related to an investigation from 40 years ago posed "substantial evidential challenges".
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
The Northumbria force said the case had been dropped due to "evidential difficulties" but inquiries into criminal damage outside the premises were ongoing.
From BBC • Nov. 9, 2025
However, last month the director of public prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, who leads the CPS, said "the case could no longer proceed to trial since the evidence no longer met the evidential test".
From BBC • Oct. 6, 2025
The CPS announced the charges against the former parliamentary researcher and teacher would be dropped early last week, as the "evidential threshold" had not been reached.
From BBC • Sep. 19, 2025
Nothing but evidential destitution could rely upon the expression in the "Epistle of Polycarp" to show acquaintance with Acts.
From Supernatural Religion, Vol. III. (of III) An Inquiry into the Reality of Divine Revelation by Cassels, Walter Richard
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.
