corroborate

verb

cor·​rob·​o·​rate kə-ˈrä-bə-ˌrāt How to pronounce corroborate (audio)
corroborated; corroborating

transitive verb

: to support with evidence or authority : make more certain
corroboration noun
corroborative
kə-ˈrä-bə-ˌrā-tiv How to pronounce corroborate (audio)
-ˈrä-b(ə-)rə-
adjective
corroborator noun
corroboratory adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for corroborate

confirm, corroborate, substantiate, verify, authenticate, validate mean to attest to the truth or validity of something.

confirm implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact.

confirmed the reports

corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

witnesses corroborated his story

substantiate implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention.

the claims have yet to be substantiated

verify implies the establishing of correspondence of actual facts or details with those proposed or guessed at.

all statements of fact in the article have been verified

authenticate implies establishing genuineness by adducing legal or official documents or expert opinion.

handwriting experts authenticated the diaries

validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof.

validated the hypothesis by experiments

Examples of corroborate in a Sentence

Studies that are wrong will be superseded by better studies with different results. Studies that are right will be corroborated by other good studies. Harriet Hall, Skeptic, 2007
Evidence like this is rarely conclusive, but it can help police corroborate testimony … David Fisher, Hard Evidence, 1995
… the great Dr. Woodruff … corroborated my doctor's belief that my two infections had been resolved … James Thurber 7 Mar. 1946, in Selected Letters Of James Thurber(1980) 1981
the witnesses corroborated the policeman's testimony my personal experience does not corroborate your faith in the essential goodness of people
Recent Examples on the Web Neither statement could be independently corroborated. Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 University hearing board report details an escalating encounter Documents that corroborated her complaint were filed with George Washington University’s Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities. Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024 The accounts could not be independently corroborated. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 16 Mar. 2024 The state, however, rejects the allegation Boettcher provided false testimony, saying in its filing Thursday her statements were corroborated by the other evidence in the case. Ed Lavandera, CNN, 23 Feb. 2024 The finding is preliminary, however, and further experiments are needed to corroborate it. Kamal Nahas, Scientific American, 21 Feb. 2024 Similar efforts by Russia to meddle in the 2016 election in favor of Trump were corroborated by DOJ Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation in 2019. Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 The center of production is thought to have moved to the port of Tyre, although Dr. Schmitt said it could not be corroborated by primary sources, either textual or archaeological. Franz Lidz, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 One of their lawyers, Cliff Gardner, says the new evidence corroborates those claims—and lessens their culpability. Natalie Morales, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'corroborate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin corroboratus, past participle of corroborare, from com- + robor-, robur strength

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of corroborate was in 1529

Dictionary Entries Near corroborate

Cite this Entry

“Corroborate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corroborate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

corroborate

verb
cor·​rob·​o·​rate kə-ˈräb-ə-ˌrāt How to pronounce corroborate (audio)
corroborated; corroborating
: to support with evidence or authority
corroborated my brother's story
corroboration noun
corroborative
-ˈräb-ə-ˌrāt-iv How to pronounce corroborate (audio)
-ˈräb-(ə-)rət-iv
adjective
corroborator noun
corroboratory adjective

Legal Definition

corroborate

transitive verb
cor·​rob·​o·​rate kə-ˈrä-bə-ˌrāt How to pronounce corroborate (audio)
corroborated; corroborating
: to support with evidence or authority : strengthen or make more certain
corroboration noun
corroborative adjective
Etymology

Latin corroboratus, past participle of corroborare to strengthen, from com-, prefix marking completion + robur strength, literally, oak tree

More from Merriam-Webster on corroborate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!