evidence

[ ev-i-duhns ]
See synonyms for: evidenceevidencedevidencing on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. 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),ev·i·denced, ev·i·denc·ing.
  1. to make evident or clear; show clearly; manifest: He evidenced his approval by promising his full support.

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

Idioms about evidence

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

Origin of evidence

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English noun from Middle French, from Latin ēvidentia; see evident, -ence

synonym study For evidence

3. 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.

Other words for evidence

Other words from evidence

  • coun·ter·ev·i·dence, noun
  • pre·ev·i·dence, noun
  • re·ev·i·dence, verb (used with object), re·ev·i·denced, re·ev·i·denc·ing.
  • su·per·ev·i·dence, noun
  • un·ev·i·denced, adjective
  • well-ev·i·denced, adjective

Words Nearby evidence

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use evidence in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for evidence

evidence

/ (ˈɛvɪdəns) /


noun
  1. ground for belief or disbelief; data on which to base proof or to establish truth or falsehood

  2. a mark or sign that makes evident; indication: his pallor was evidence of ill health

  1. law matter produced before a court of law in an attempt to prove or disprove a point in issue, such as the statements of witnesses, documents, material objects, etc: See also circumstantial evidence, direct evidence

  2. turn queen's evidence, turn king's evidence or turn state's evidence (of an accomplice) to act as witness for the prosecution and testify against those associated with him in crime

  3. in evidence on display; apparent; conspicuous: her new ring was in evidence

verb(tr)
  1. to make evident; show clearly

  2. to give proof of or evidence for

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with evidence

evidence

see in evidence; much in evidence.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.