evidence definition | Dictionary.com

ev⋅i⋅dence

[ev-i-duh

ns]

noun, verb, -denced, -denc⋅ing.

–noun

1.	that which tends to prove or disprove something; ground for belief; proof.

2.	something that makes plain or clear; an indication or sign: His flushed look was visible evidence of his fever.

3.	Law. data presented to a court or jury in proof of the facts in issue and which may include the testimony of witnesses, records, documents, or objects.

–verb (used with object)

4.	to make evident or clear; show clearly; manifest: He evidenced his approval by promising his full support.

5.	to support by evidence: He evidenced his accusation with incriminating letters.

—Idiom

6.	in evidence, plainly visible; conspicuous: The first signs of spring are in evidence.

Origin:
1250–1300; ME (n.) < MF < L ēvidentia. See evident, -ence

Synonyms:
3. information, deposition, affidavit. Evidence, exhibit, testimony, proof refer to information furnished in a legal investigation to support a contention. Evidence is any information so given, whether furnished by witnesses or derived from documents or from any other source: Hearsay evidence is not admitted in a trial. An exhibit in law is a document or article that is presented in court as evidence: The signed contract is Exhibit A. Testimony is usually evidence given by witnesses under oath: The jury listened carefully to the testimony. Proof is evidence that is so complete and convincing as to put a conclusion beyond reasonable doubt: proof of the innocence of the accused. 4. demonstrate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To evidence

ev·i·dence (ěv'ĭ-dəns)

A thing or things helpful in forming a conclusion or judgment: The broken window was evidence that a burglary had taken place. Scientists weigh the evidence for and against a hypothesis.
Something indicative; an outward sign: evidence of grief on a mourner's face.
Law The documentary or oral statements and the material objects admissible as testimony in a court of law.

tr.v. ev·i·denced, ev·i·denc·ing, ev·i·denc·es

To indicate clearly; exemplify or prove.
To support by testimony; attest.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin ēvidentia, from Latin ēvidēns, ēvident-, obvious; see evident.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Evidence

Ev"i*dence\, n. [F. ['e]vidence, L. Evidentia. See Evident.]

1. That which makes evident or manifest; that which furnishes, or tends to furnish, proof; any mode of proof; the ground of belief or judgement; as, the evidence of our senses; evidence of the truth or falsehood of a statement.

Faith is . . . the evidence of things not seen. --Heb. xi. 1.

O glorious trial of exceeding love Illustrious evidence, example high. --Milton.

2. One who bears witness. [R.] "Infamous and perjured evidences." --Sir W. Scott.

3. (Law) That which is legally submitted to competent tribunal, as a means of ascertaining the truth of any alleged matter of fact under investigation before it; means of making proof; -- the latter, strictly speaking, not being synonymous with evidence, but rather the effect of it. --Greenleaf.

Circumstantial evidence, Conclusive evidence, etc. See under Circumstantial, Conclusive, etc.

Crown's, King's, or Queen's evidence, evidence for the crown. [Eng.]

State's evidence, evidence for the government or the people. [U. S. ]

To turn King's, Queen's or State's evidence, to confess a crime and give evidence against one's accomplices.

Syn: Testimony; proof. See Tesimony.

Evidence

Ev"i*dence\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Evidenced; p, pr. & vb. n. Evidencing.] To render evident or clear; to prove; to evince; as, to evidence a fact, or the guilt of an offender. --Milton.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : evidence

Spanish: prueba, indicio,

German: der Beweis, die Beweismittel,

Japanese: 証拠

More Translations »

Main Entry: ev·i·dence
Pronunciation: 'e-v&-d&ns, -"dens
Function: noun
Etymology: Medieval Latin evidentia, from Latin, that which is obvious, from evident- evidens clear, obvious, from e- out of, from + videns, present participle of videre to see
: something that furnishes or tends to furnish proof; especially : something (as testimony, writings, or objects) presented at a judicial or administrative proceeding for the purpose of establishing the truth or falsity of an alleged matter of fact —see also ADMISSIBLE, BEST EVIDENCE RULE, EXCLUSIONARY RULE, EXHIBIT, FOUNDATION, OBJECTION,, PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE, RELEVANT, SCINTILLA, STATE'S EVIDENCE, SUPPRESS, TESTIMONY, WITNESS Federal Rules of Evidence in the IMPORTANT LAWS section —compare ALLEGATION, ARGUMENT, PROOF

best evidence
: evidence that is the most reliable and most direct in relationship to what it is offered to prove —see also BEST EVIDENCE RULE

char·ac·ter evidence
: evidence of a particular human trait (as honesty or peacefulness) of a party or witness —see also character witness at WITNESS
NOTE: Under the Federal Rules of Evidence, character evidence generally may not be used to prove that a person acted in accordance with that character. It is admissible for that purpose, however, if a criminal defendant offers it about himself or herself or about the victim, or if the prosecution offers evidence to rebut the defendant's evidence in either of those circumstances. The prosecution may also rebut a claim of self-defense by presenting evidence of the peaceful character of the victim. Additionally, the character of a witness with regard to truthfulness may be attacked or supported by opinion or by evidence of reputation.

circumstantial evidence
: evidence that tends to prove a factual matter by proving other events or circumstances from which the occurrence of the matter at issue can be reasonably inferred —compare DIRECT EVIDENCE in this entry

clear and convincing evidence
: evidence showing a high probability of truth of the factual matter at issue —compare PREPONDERANCE OF THE EVIDENCE, REASONABLE DOUBT

com·mu·ni·ca·tive evidence
/k&-'myü-n&-k&-tiv-, -"kA-tiv-/
: TESTIMONIAL EVIDENCE in this entry

competent evidence
: evidence that is admissible, relevant, and material to the factual matter at issue

corroborating evidence
: evidence that is independent of and different from but that supplements and strengthens evidence already presented as proof of a factual matter called also corroborative evidence —compare CUMULATIVE EVIDENCE in this entry

cumulative evidence
: evidence that is of the same kind as evidence already offered as proof of the same factual matter —compare CORROBORATING EVIDENCE in this entry

de·mon·stra·tive evidence
: evidence in the form of objects (as maps, diagrams, or models) that has in itself no probative value but is used to illustrate and clarify the factual matter at issue; broadly : PHYSICAL EVIDENCE in this entry called also illustrative evidence

derivative evidence
: evidence obtained as a result of the unlawful gathering of primary evidence called also indirect evidence secondary evidence —see also FRUIT OF THE POISONOUS TREE

direct evidence
: evidence that if believed immediately establishes the factual matter to be proved by it without the need for inferences; especially : evidence of a factual matter offered by a witness whose knowledge of the matter was obtained through the use of his or her senses (as sight or hearing) —compare CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE in this entry

evidence in chief
: evidence that is to be used by a party in making its case in chief

exculpatory evidence
: evidence that tends to clear a defendant from fault or guilt —see also BRADY MATERIAL
NOTE: The prosecution in a criminal case is obligated to disclose to the defense any exculpatory evidence in its possession.

extrinsic evidence
1 : evidence regarding an agreement that is not included in the written version of the agreement
NOTE: A court may use extrinsic evidence to make sense of an ambiguity in a writing subject to some limitations.
2 : evidence about a witness's character obtained from the testimony of other witnesses rather than from cross-examination of the witness himself or herself
NOTE: A witness may not be impeached by the use of extrinsic evidence.

hearsay evidence
: a statement made out of court and not under oath and offered in evidence as proof that what is stated is true : HEARSAY

il·lus·tra·tive evidence
: DEMONSTRATIVE EVIDENCE in this entry

impeachment evidence
: evidence that may be used to impeach a witness because it tends to harm the witness's credibility

indirect evidence
: DERIVATIVE EVIDENCE in this entry

intrinsic evidence
: evidence that exists within a writing intrinsic evidence of the testator's intent —Stoner v. Custer, 251 North Eastern Reporter, Second Series 668 (1968)> —compare EXTRINSIC EVIDENCE in this entry

material evidence
: evidence that is likely to affect the determination of a matter or issue; specifically : evidence that warrants reopening of a claim or reversal of a conviction because but for the circumstance that the evidence was unavailable the outcome of the first proceeding would have been different

no evidence
: evidence presented that is insufficient to prove a matter of esp. vital fact : a point of error that insufficient evidence has been presented to support a finding

parol evidence
: evidence of matters spoken (as an oral agreement) that are related to but not included in a writing —see also PAROL EVIDENCE RULE

physical evidence
: tangible evidence (as a weapon, document, or visible injury) that is in some way related to the incident that gave rise to the case called also real evidence —compare DEMONSTRATIVE EVIDENCE and, TESTIMONIAL EVIDENCE in this entry

presumptive evidence
: PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE in this entry

prima facie evidence
: evidence that is sufficient to prove a factual matter at issue and justify a favorable judgment on that issue unless rebutted

pri·ma·ry evidence
1 : BEST EVIDENCE in this entry
2 : evidence obtained as a direct result of an unlawful search

re·al vidence
: PHYSICAL EVIDENCE in this entry

rebuttal evidence
: evidence that tends to refute or discredit an opponent's evidence

relevant evidence
: evidence that tends to prove or disprove any issue of fact that is of consequence to the case

secondary evidence
: DERIVATIVE EVIDENCE in this entry

sub·stan·tial evidence
: evidence greater than a scintilla of evidence that a reasonable person would find sufficient to support a conclusion

substantive evidence
: evidence offered to prove a factual issue rather than merely for impeachment

testimonial evidence
: evidence given in writing or speech or in another way that expresses the person's thoughts —compare PHYSICAL EVIDENCE in this entry
NOTE: Only testimonial evidence is protected by the Fifth Amendment's privilege against self-incrimination.—in evidence : as evidence in evidence>

Main Entry: evidence
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: -denced; -denc·ing
: to provide evidence of

evidence

see in evidence; much in evidence.

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