proof

[proof]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR proof ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

evidence sufficient to establish a thing as true, or to produce belief in its truth.

anything serving as such evidence: What proof do you have?

the act of testing or making trial of anything; test; trial: to put a thing to the proof.

the establishment of the truth of anything; demonstration.

Law. (in judicial proceedings) evidence having probative weight.

the effect of evidence in convincing the mind.

an arithmetical operation serving to check the correctness of a calculation.

Mathematics, Logic. a sequence of steps, statements, or demonstrations that leads to a valid conclusion.

a test to determine the quality, durability, etc., of materials used in manufacture.

Distilling.

the arbitrary standard strength, as of an alcoholic liquor.
strength with reference to this standard: “100 proof” signifies a proof spirit, usually 50% alcohol.

Photography. a trial print from a negative.

Printing.

a trial impression, as of composed type, taken to correct errors and make alterations.
one of a number of early and superior impressions taken before the printing of the ordinary issue: to pull a proof.

(in printmaking) an impression taken from a plate or the like to show the quality or condition of work during the process of execution; a print pulled for examination while working on a plate, block, stone, etc.

Numismatics. one of a limited number of coins of a new issue struck from polished dies on a blank having a polished or matte surface.

the state of having been tested and approved.

proved strength, as of armor.

Scots Law. the trial of a case by a judge alone, without a jury.

adjective

able to withstand; successful in not being overcome: proof against temptation.

impenetrable, impervious, or invulnerable: proof against outside temperature changes.

used for testing or proving; serving as proof.

of standard strength, as an alcoholic liquor.

of tested or proven strength or quality: proof armor.

noting pieces of pure gold and silver that the U.S. assay and mint offices use as standards.

verb (used with object)

to test; examine for flaws, errors, etc.; check against a standard or standards.

Printing. prove(def 7).

to proofread.

to treat or coat for the purpose of rendering resistant to deterioration, damage, etc. (often used in combination): to proof a house against termites; to shrink-proof a shirt.

Cookery.

to test the effectiveness of (yeast), as by combining with warm water so that a bubbling action occurs.
to cause (especially bread dough) to rise due to the addition of baker's yeast or other leavening.

Origin of proof

1175–1225; Middle English prove, prooff, prof, proufe, alteration (by association with the vowel of prove) of preove, proeve, prieve, pref < Middle French preve, proeve, prueve < Late Latin proba a test, akin to Latin probāre to test and find good; cf. pree

Related formsre-proof, verb (used with object)un·proofed, adjective

Synonyms for proof

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR proof ON THESAURUS.COM

1. confirmation, demonstration, corroboration, support. 3. examination, assay. 18. firm, steadfast.

Synonym study

1. See evidence.

-proof

a combining form meaning “resistant, impervious to” that specified by the initial element: burglarproof; childproof; waterproof.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for proof

information, confirmation, picture, demonstration, argument, clue, reason, criterion, testimony, testament, validation, data, verification, impression, exhibit, wherefore, attestation, facts, witness, corroboration

Examples from the Web for proof

Contemporary Examples of proof

They're also proof that no matter how fancy you are, you can't escape the urge to watch two girls make out.
High-End Pervs Film Benedict Cumberbatch and Reese Witherspoon Sucking Face
Amy Zimmerman
December 11, 2014
Then stab her to death and bring me back her lungs and liver as proof of your deed.
In New Brothers Grimm 'Snow White', The Prince Doesn't Save Her
The Brothers Grimm
November 30, 2014
He took out the lungs and liver and brought them to the queen as proof that the child was dead.
In New Brothers Grimm 'Snow White', The Prince Doesn't Save Her
The Brothers Grimm
November 30, 2014
He then struck an optimistic note, saying his own life is proof that we have made great progress in matters of race.
Darren Wilson Wasn’t Indicted—the System Was
Michael Daly
November 25, 2014
Italian authorities say they have proof they are fighting the mobs.
Days of Mafia Mayhem Are Wracking Italy Once Again
Barbie Latza Nadeau
November 22, 2014

Historical Examples of proof

But you think otherwise, I will not put you upon labouring the proof, as you call it.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
That he killed a mutineer is proof of his resolute adherence to discipline.
Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 6, May 7, 1870
Various
These goods which you sell are not to be seen, nor is there any proof that you hold them.
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle
But Posthumus will not await the proof for which he has asked.
The Man Shakespeare
Frank Harris
It is a proof of human weakness, and not of the truth of their art.
The Imaginary Invalid
Molire

British Dictionary definitions for proof

proof

noun

any evidence that establishes or helps to establish the truth, validity, quality, etc, of something

law the whole body of evidence upon which the verdict of a court is based

maths logic a sequence of steps or statements that establishes the truth of a propositionSee also direct (def. 17), induction (def. 4), induction (def. 8)

the act of testing the truth of something (esp in the phrase put to the proof)

Scots law trial before a judge without a jury

printing a trial impression made from composed type, or a print-out (from a laser printer, etc) for the correction of errors

(in engraving, etc) a print made by an artist or under his supervision for his own satisfaction before he hands the plate over to a professional printer

photog a trial print from a negative

the alcoholic strength of proof spirit
the strength of a beverage or other alcoholic liquor as measured on a scale in which the strength of proof spirit is 100 degrees

adjective

(usually postpositive foll by against) able to resist; impervious (to)the roof is proof against rain

having the alcoholic strength of proof spirit

of proved strength or impenetrabilityproof armour

verb

(tr) to take a proof from (type matter, a plate, etc)

to proofread (text) or inspect (a print, etc), as for approval

to render (something) proof, esp to waterproof

Word Origin for proof

C13: from Old French preuve a test, from Late Latin proba, from Latin probāre to test

-proof

adjective, combining form

secure against (damage by); (make) impervious towaterproof; mothproof; childproof

Word Origin for -proof

from proof (adj)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for proof

early 13c., preove "evidence to establish the fact of (something)," from Anglo-French preove, Old French prueve "proof, test, experience" (13c., Modern French preuve), from Late Latin proba "a proof," a back-formation from Latin probare "to prove" (see prove). "The devocalization of v to f ensued upon the loss of final e; cf. the relation of v and f in believe, belief, relieve, relief, behove, behoof, etc. [OED].

Meaning "act of proving" is early 14c. Meaning "act of testing or making trial of anything" is from late 14c., from influence of prove. Meaning "standard of strength of distilled liquor" is from 1705. In photography from 1855. Typographical sense of "trial impression to test type" is from c.1600. Numismatic sense of "coin struck to test a die" is from 1762; now mostly in reference to coins struck from highly polished dies, mainly for collectors.

Adjectival sense (proof against) is recorded from 1590s, from the noun in expressions such as proof of (mid-15c.), hence extended senses involving "tested power" in compounds such as fireproof (1630s), waterproof (1725), foolproof (1902), etc. Shakespeare has shame-proof.

1834, "to test," from proof (n.). From 1950 as short for proofread (v.). Related: Proofed; proofing.

proof in Science

proof

[prōōf]

A demonstration of the truth of a mathematical or logical statement, based on axioms and theorems derived from those axioms.