evidential
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived 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.
Cumbria Police said a man had been arrested and released on bail, but no charges were brought against him because the case did not meet the evidential threshold.
From BBC • May 5, 2026
South Yorkshire Police said the evidential threshold had not been met for prosecution in what it described as "an incredibly complex case".
From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026
"A full file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, who determined the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges. Following this advice, the investigation was closed in May 2019."
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
Mr Cameron further told the hearing he anticipated "four to five weeks for the evidential hearings."
From BBC • Sep. 22, 2025
There is an evidential value in a good father, in wife and children—even in a telearchy with its tiles and cement—which is apt to be under-estimated.
From The Conflict of Religions in the Early Roman Empire by Glover, T. R. (Terrot Reaveley)
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.
