proof
1 Americannoun
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evidence sufficient to establish a thing as true, or to produce belief in its truth.
- Synonyms:
- support, corroboration, demonstration, confirmation
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anything serving as such evidence.
What proof do you have?
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the act of testing or making trial of anything; test; trial.
to put a thing to the proof.
- Synonyms:
- assay, examination
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the establishment of the truth of anything; demonstration.
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Law. (in judicial proceedings) evidence having probative weight.
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the effect of evidence in convincing the mind.
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an arithmetical operation serving to check the correctness of a calculation.
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Mathematics, Logic. a sequence of steps, statements, or demonstrations that leads to a valid conclusion.
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a test to determine the quality, durability, etc., of materials used in manufacture.
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Distilling.
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the arbitrary standard strength, as of an alcoholic liquor.
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strength with reference to this standard: “100 proof ” signifies a proof spirit, usually 50% alcohol.
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Photography. a trial print from a negative.
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Printing.
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a trial impression, as of composed type, taken to correct errors and make alterations.
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one of a number of early and superior impressions taken before the printing of the ordinary issue.
to pull a proof.
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(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.
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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.
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the state of having been tested and approved.
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proved strength, as of armor.
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Scots Law. the trial of a case by a judge alone, without a jury.
adjective
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able to withstand; successful in not being overcome.
proof against temptation.
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impenetrable, impervious, or invulnerable.
proof against outside temperature changes.
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used for testing or proving; serving as proof.
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of standard strength, as an alcoholic liquor.
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of tested or proven strength or quality.
proof armor.
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noting pieces of pure gold and silver that the U.S. assay and mint offices use as standards.
verb (used with object)
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to test; examine for flaws, errors, etc.; check against a standard or standards.
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Printing. prove.
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to proofread.
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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.
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Cooking.
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to test the effectiveness of (yeast), as by combining with warm water so that a bubbling action occurs.
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to cause (especially bread dough) to rise due to the addition of baker's yeast or other leavening.
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adjective
noun
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any evidence that establishes or helps to establish the truth, validity, quality, etc, of something
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law the whole body of evidence upon which the verdict of a court is based
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maths logic a sequence of steps or statements that establishes the truth of a proposition See also direct induction induction
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the act of testing the truth of something (esp in the phrase put to the proof )
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Scots law trial before a judge without a jury
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printing a trial impression made from composed type, or a print-out (from a laser printer, etc) for the correction of errors
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(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
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photog a trial print from a negative
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the alcoholic strength of proof spirit
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the strength of a beverage or other alcoholic liquor as measured on a scale in which the strength of proof spirit is 100 degrees
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adjective
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able to resist; impervious (to)
the roof is proof against rain
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having the alcoholic strength of proof spirit
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of proved strength or impenetrability
proof armour
verb
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(tr) to take a proof from (type matter, a plate, etc)
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to proofread (text) or inspect (a print, etc), as for approval
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to render (something) proof, esp to waterproof
Usage
What does -proof mean? The combining form -proof is used like a suffix meaning “resistant, impervious to.” Impervious means "impenetrable." It is occasionally used in a variety of everyday and technical terms.The form -proof ultimately comes from Latin proba, meaning “test.”
Related Words
See evidence.
Other Word Forms
- re-proof verb (used with object)
- unproofed adjective
Etymology
Origin of proof
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English prove, prooff, prof, proufe, alteration (by association with the vowel of prove ) of preove, proeve, prieve, pref, from Middle French preve, proeve, prueve, from Late Latin proba “a test,” akin to Latin probāre “to test and find good”; pree
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.
The proof could be found across the Pacific.
Crypto firms seek 24/7 blockchain stock trading, but the SEC’s exemption is expected to be incremental, a “proof of concept”.
From Barron's
“Cross-lots off the rez is called trespassing. Other people’s property requires provable permission and you better be able to present that proof at a moment’s notice.”
From Literature
What he was looking for was some sort of prior warning… some sort of proof that the Afterlife did, in fact, love him.
From Literature
He set a plan in motion that would let the company advertise to car dealers that Santander Consumer wasn’t going to ask anymore for proof of income, or “POI,” in order to issue a loan.
From Salon
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.
