What does "evidence" mean?
Facts or observations presented in support of an assertion.
Evidence
/[ˈɛv.ɪ.ɾɪns]/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Facts or observations presented in support of an assertion.
- Grammar: evidence is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: account, acquaintance, affect, affidavit.
- Useful contrasts: apparent claim, biological concept, non-evidence.
- Usage evidence: As for the accusations of heresy, here the evidence is much weaker.
How to use "evidence"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "evidence" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "evidence" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "evidence" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "evidence" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "evidence" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "account" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "evidence", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Facts or observations presented in support of an assertion. uncountable, usually
"There is no evidence that anyone was here earlier."
- 2 your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief wordnet
- 3 Anything admitted by a court to prove or disprove alleged matters of fact in a trial. uncountable, usually
"For Lothian and Borders Police, the early-morning raid had come at the end one of biggest investigations carried out by the force, which had originally presented a dossier of evidence on the murder of Jodi Jones to the Edinburgh procurator-fiscal, William Gallagher, on 25 November last year."
- 4 an indication that makes something evident wordnet
- 5 One who bears witness. uncountable, usually
"infamous and perjured evidences"
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 (law) all the means by which any alleged matter of fact whose truth is investigated at judicial trial is established or disproved wordnet
- 7 A body of objectively verifiable facts that are positively indicative of, and/or exclusively concordant with, that one conclusion over any other. uncountable, usually
Verb
- 1 To provide evidence for, or suggest the truth of. transitive
"She was furious, as evidenced by her slamming the door."
- 2 provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes wordnet
- 3 give evidence wordnet
- 4 provide evidence for wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"As for the accusations of heresy, here the evidence is much weaker."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "evidence"?
Common synonyms include: account, acquaintance, affect, affidavit, affidavits, affirmation.
How do you use "evidence" in a sentence?
As for the accusations of heresy, here the evidence is much weaker.
How do you pronounce "evidence"?
Pronounced /[ˈɛv.ɪ.ɾɪns]/.
Etymology
From Middle English evidence, from Old French [Term?], from Latin evidentia (“clearness, in Late Latin a proof”), from evidens (“clear, evident”); see evident.