proof

noun

(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.

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

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.

(US) A measure of the alcohol content of liquor. Originally, in Britain, 100 proof was defined as 57.1% by volume (no longer used). In the US, 100 proof means that the alcohol content is 50% of the total volume of the liquid; thus, perfectly pure absolute alcohol would be 200 proof.

(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.

(countable, mathematics) A process for testing the accuracy of an operation performed. Compare prove, transitive verb, 5.

(countable, printing) A proof sheet; a trial impression, as from type, taken for correction or examination.

(numismatics) A limited-run high-quality strike of a particular coin, originally as a test run, although nowadays mostly for collectors' sets.

The 98th sura (chapter) of the Qur'an.

(uncountable, obsolete) Firmness of mind; stability not to be shaken.

(obsolete) Armour of excellent or tried quality, and deemed impenetrable; properly, armour of proof.

(obsolete) Experience of something.

verb

(transitive) To make resistant, especially to water.

(transitive, firearms) To test-fire with a load considerably more powerful than the firearm in question's rated maximum chamber pressure, in order to establish the firearm's ability to withstand pressures well in excess of those expected in service without bursting.

(transitive, baking) To allow (yeast-containing dough) to rise, especially after it has been shaped

(transitive, baking) To test the activeness of (yeast).

(transitive, intransitive, colloquial) To proofread.

adjective

(of alcoholic liquors) Being of a certain standard as to alcohol content.

Used in proving or testing.

Firm or successful in resisting.

Roots

proboproof- · Latin · prove, test

Synonyms for proof

substantiationn evidencen validationn provingv corroborationn attestationn testimonyn verificationn documentationn confirmationn

Synonyms & related words for proof

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of proof — including substantiation, evidence, validation, proving, corroboration, attestation. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to proof

Explore words related to proof — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include underproof, prover, proves, counterproof, provability, provable, substantiate, demonstrability. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for proof

Common synonyms for proof include substantiation, evidence, validation, proving, corroboration, attestation, testimony, verification — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does proof come from?

The word proof breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root proof-, from Latin probo (“prove, test”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.