corroborate

/kəˈrɑːbəreɪt/ formal

Say it: kuh-ROB-uh-rayt

verb To confirm or give support to a statement, theory, or finding, especially by providing new, independent evidence.
The forensic evidence was crucial to corroborate the witness's testimony.

📖 Seen in the wild

The witness's account was corroborated by surveillance footage from the scene.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ corroborate in a sentence

The new satellite data corroborates earlier findings about the rate of glacial melt.
Lacking a second witness to corroborate his story, the defendant was acquitted.
Further experiments will be needed to corroborate the initial hypothesis.
Can you find another source to corroborate these sales figures before we present them to the board?
Her diary entries seem to corroborate her husband's version of events.
He claimed he was at the library, but no one could corroborate his alibi.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

confirm substantiate verify support authenticate validate back up

confirm · implies verifying something is true, while corroborate means adding new support.

substantiate · suggests providing solid, tangible proof, often for a serious claim.

verify · focuses on checking for accuracy through a methodical process.

support · a more general term that doesn't necessarily imply new or independent evidence.

Opposites: contradict, refute, rebut, disprove, deny

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'corroborate' comes from the Latin 'corroborare', meaning 'to strengthen'. It's built from 'com-', meaning 'together', and 'robur', meaning 'strength' or 'oak'. The idea is that new evidence joins with existing claims to make them stronger, like reinforcing a structure.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

corroborate a storycorroborate a claimcorroborate the evidencecorroborate an accountevidence to corroboratewitness to corroborate

'Corroborate' is a formal word best suited for legal, academic, and professional contexts. Its key meaning involves strengthening a claim with new, independent information. While similar to 'confirm', 'corroborate' is more specific; you confirm a reservation you already made, but you find new evidence to corroborate a theory.

Word family: corroboration, corroborative, corroborator

💬 Quick answers

What does 'corroborate' mean in simple terms?

It means to add proof or support to a statement or story, making it seem more true. It's like having someone back up your story with their own separate evidence.

What's the difference between 'corroborate' and 'confirm'?

'Corroborate' specifically means to strengthen a claim with new, independent evidence. 'Confirm' is broader and can simply mean verifying something is true or definite, without necessarily adding new proof.

Is 'corroborate' a formal word?

Yes, 'corroborate' is a formal word. You'll often hear it in courtrooms, news reports, and scientific papers, but it's less common in casual conversation, where you might say 'back up' instead.

Can you corroborate a person?

Not directly. You don't corroborate a person; you corroborate their statement, testimony, or claim. The evidence supports what the person said, not the person themselves.

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