Proof Pruːf True Provide Positive Living Late Noun

• conclusive/definitive/scientific proof
• the police suspected him of dealing drugs, but they didn't have any proof.
• to require/need proof
• can you provide any proof of identity?

proof

Word Family

• prove verb (≠ disprove)
• proof noun
• proven adjective (≠ unproven)
1. information, documents, etc. that show that something is true
• SYNONYM evidence
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/evidence_2
• conclusive/definitive/scientific proof
• The police suspected him of dealing drugs, but they didn't have any proof.
• to require/need proof
• Can you provide any proof of identity?
• Keep the receipt as proof of purchase.
• These results are a further proof of his outstanding ability.
• There is no proof that the knife belonged to her.
• Today's unemployment figures are proof positive the government's economic plan isn't working.
• In criminal cases the burden of proof (= requirement to provide proof) is on the prosecution.
• plans to lower the standard of proof required to convict people of crimes under the Terrorism Act

Extra Examples

• We need conclusive proof before we can take this matter to court.
• He is unlikely to make wild accusations without proof.
• The men were acquitted for lack of proof.
• I am living proof that the treatment works.
• The photo was final proof of her husband's infidelity.
• Her account gives us no concrete proof of his guilt.
• Have you got any positive proof that she took the money?
• I have no real proof that he was in the country at the time.
• We have proof positive that he is in hiding.
2. the process of testing whether something is true or a fact
• SEE ALSO burden of proof
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/the-burden-of-proof
• Is the claim capable of proof?
3. a way of proving that a statement is true or that what you have calculated is correct
4. a copy of printed material which is produced so that mistakes can be corrected
• SEE ALSO page proof
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/page-proof
• She was checking the proofs of her latest novel.
5. a standard used to measure the strength of alcoholic drinks
6. to show by your actions or qualities that a particular fact is true
• These figures are living proof of the government's incompetence.
• He is living proof that age is no barrier to new challenges.
7. you can only judge if something is good or bad when you have tried it

Word Origin

• Middle English preve, from Old French proeve, from late Latin proba, from Latin probare ‘to test, prove’. The change of vowel in late Middle English was due to the influence of prove. Current senses of the verb date from the late 19th cent.