substantiate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to establish by proof or competent evidence.
to substantiate a charge.
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to give substantial existence to.
to substantiate an idea through action.
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to affirm as having substance; give body to; strengthen.
to substantiate a friendship.
verb
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to establish as valid or genuine
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to give form or real existence to
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of substantiate
First recorded in 1650–60; from New Latin substantiātus (past participle of substantiāre ), equivalent to Latin substanti(a) substance + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
To substantiate is to give support to a claim. We’d really like to believe in the Tooth Fairy; however, more evidence is needed to substantiate her existence (besides that quarter in your pocket). Substantiate is related to the word substantial, which means "solid." So, to substantiate a claim is to make it solid or believable. If the evidence given in support of an argument is weak and unconvincing, that evidence can be described as insubstantial. Of course, in special cases like the Tooth Fairy, having substantial evidence doesn’t seem to matter; fans just keep on believing.
Vocabulary lists containing substantiate
100 Top "SAT" Words
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 6
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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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.
State legislative panels convened to investigate the allegations also fizzled out after they were unable to substantiate such claims.
From Salon • Apr. 12, 2026
Pressed again about the IDF's comments, he said: "There is no assessment to substantiate what's being said."
From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026
Through these chart reviews, the DOJ alleges, Aetna identified opportunities for additional payments from the Medicare agency, yet ignored the results when the chart reviews didn’t substantiate codes Aetna had already submitted to the agency.
From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026
Another billed Medicaid for 200 hours of therapy in a month for a single child, though it could substantiate only 49 hours of services.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026
White hadn’t been able to substantiate Kenny’s allegations, but he wasn’t sure what to make of Comstock, either.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
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.
