Meaning

(countable) An effort, process, or operation designed to establish or discover a fact or truth; an act of testing; a test; a trial..

Definitions by Sense

1. (countable) An effort, process, or operation designed to establish or discover a fact or truth; an act of testing; a test; a trial.
2. (uncountable) The degree of evidence which convinces the mind of any truth or fact, and produces belief; a test by facts or arguments which induce, or tend to induce, certainty of the judgment; conclusive evidence; demonstration.
3. The quality or state of having been proved or tried; firmness or hardness which resists impression, or does not yield to force; impenetrability of physical bodies.
4. (obsolete) Experience of something.
5. (uncountable, obsolete) Firmness of mind; stability not to be shaken.
6. (countable, printing) A proof sheet; a trial impression, as from type, taken for correction or examination.
7. (numismatics) A limited-run high-quality strike of a particular coin, originally as a test run, although nowadays mostly for collectors' sets.
8. (countable, logic, mathematics) A sequence of statements consisting of axioms, assumptions, statements already demonstrated in another proof, and statements that logically follow from previous statements in the sequence, and which concludes with a statement that is the object of the proof.

Example Sentences

I need proof of your unconditional love. Lend me some dough.

1591, Edmund Spenser, Prosopopoia: or, Mother Hubbard's Tale, later also published in William Michael Rossetti, Humorous Poems, But the false Fox most kindly played his part, For whatsoever mother-wit or art Could work he put in proof. No practice sly, No counterpoint of cunning policy, No reach, no breach, that might him profit bring. But he the same did to his purpose wring.

France I more praise and love; you are, my lord, Yourself for horsemanship much famed; and there You shall have many proofs to shew your skill.

A given quantity of the spirits was poured upon a quantity of gunpowder in a dish and set on fire. If at the end of the combustion, the gunpowder continued dry enough, it took fire and exploded; but if it had been wetted by the water in the spirits, the flame of the alcohol went out without setting the powder on fire. This was called the proof.

I'll have some proof.

It was a grand sentence of Emanuel Swedenborg, which would alone indicate the greatness of that man's perception, — "It is no proof of a man's understanding to be able to confirm whatever he pleases; but to be able to discern that what is true is true, and that what is false is false, this is the mark and character of intelligence."

Faith, faith is an island in the setting sun But proof, yes Proof is the bottom line for everyone

But the chaste damzell, that had never priefe / Of such malengine and fine forgerye, / Did easely beleeve her strong extremitye.

Word Forms

• proofs
• more proof
• most proof
• proofing
• proofed

Synonyms for proof

Antonyms for proof

Related Words

When Should You Use Proof?

Use proof when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

Practice This Word

Frequently Asked Questions