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substantiate

[suhb-stan-shee-eyt]
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verb (used with object), sub·stan·ti·at·ed, sub·stan·ti·at·ing.

to establish by proof or competent evidence: to substantiate a charge.
to give substantial existence to: to substantiate an idea through action.
to affirm as having substance; give body to; strengthen: to substantiate a friendship.

RELATED WORDS

affirm, debunk, confirm, ratify, verify, prove, corroborate, demonstrate, validate, justify, materialize, incarnate, authenticate, complete, actualize, support, manifest, try, objectify, approve

Nearby words

  1. substantia nigra,
  2. substantial,
  3. substantialism,
  4. substantialize,
  5. substantially,
  6. substantival,
  7. substantive,
  8. substantive agreements,
  9. substantive rank,
  10. substantive right

Origin of substantiate

1650–60; < New Latin substantiātus (past participle of substantiāre), equivalent to Latin substanti(a) substance + -ātus -ate1
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for substantiate

British Dictionary definitions for substantiate

substantiate

verb (tr)

to establish as valid or genuine
to give form or real existence to
Derived Formssubstantiation, nounsubstantiative, adjectivesubstantiator, noun

Word Origin for substantiate

C17: from New Latin substantiāre, from Latin substantia substance
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 substantiate

substantiate

v.

1650s, "to make real, to give substance to," from Modern Latin substantiatus, past participle of substantiare, from Latin substantia (see substance). Meaning "to demonstrate or prove" is attested from 1803. Related: Substantiated; substantiating.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper