Evidence Meaning

UK /ˈɛvɪdəns/
US /ˈɛvɪdəns/
Word Definition
evidence meaning

Evidence Definition & Usage

noun

The available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.

Examples

  • "The evidence suggests that the new medicine is highly effective."
  • "The police found no evidence to support his claim of innocence."
  • "She presented compelling evidence in court to prove her case."
  • "Without concrete evidence, the case against the defendant is weak."
  • "The evidence from the accident scene was collected by forensic experts."
noun

Information or material presented in a legal proceeding to support or undermine a claim.

Examples

  • "The defense attorney argued that the evidence presented was insufficient."
  • "Witness testimony can serve as crucial evidence in a trial."
  • "The jury reviewed all the evidence before reaching a verdict."
  • "The forensic evidence was a key factor in solving the case."
  • "The lawyer requested additional evidence from the prosecution."
noun

The logical proof or indication of the truth or falsehood of a statement or hypothesis.

Examples

  • "In philosophy, evidence can be interpreted as any data that supports a proposition."
  • "Empirical evidence is often used in philosophical arguments to prove or disprove theories."
  • "The evidence provided does not conclusively support the existence of free will."
  • "In the debate on consciousness, there is a lack of compelling evidence."
  • "The philosopher argued that anecdotal evidence is unreliable in proving metaphysical claims."
verb

To provide evidence or proof for a claim or statement.

Examples

  • "The documents will help to evidence the defendant's innocence."
  • "Her research clearly evidenced the link between diet and health."
  • "They tried to evidence the existence of life on Mars, but failed."
  • "The findings of the study evidenced the effectiveness of the treatment."
  • "The witness's testimony evidenced the truth of the defendant's alibi."

Cultural Context

The concept of 'evidence' is central to many disciplines, especially law, science, and philosophy. In the legal system, evidence is crucial for determining guilt or innocence, and in science, evidence forms the basis of theories and experiments. The word itself is rooted in Latin 'evidentia,' meaning clarity or obviousness, which reflects its role in clarifying truth or facts.

The Missing Clue

Story

The Missing Clue

The courtroom was quiet as the jury filed in, eyes narrowed in concentration. For months, the case had hinged on a single piece of evidence—a torn page from an old notebook found at the scene of the crime. Detective Clara Stone had spent hours combing through the lab results, looking for any clue that might connect the suspect to the crime. 'This is the key,' she said to her partner, Marcus. 'We need to prove its significance.' The trial had already lasted three weeks, and Clara was beginning to feel the pressure. The defense attorney had been relentless, challenging the validity of the forensic evidence. But Clara knew that if she could connect the torn page to the suspect, the case would be won. During the cross-examination, she asked the witness to clarify the moment when the page was found. The witness, a local shopkeeper, had seen someone leave the scene hurriedly. Clara pressed further. 'Did you notice anything else that could serve as evidence of their identity?' The shopkeeper hesitated. It was subtle, but there was a flicker in his eyes. Clara understood; the moment was the breakthrough she needed. Days later, after presenting further evidence—digital footprints, a matching fingerprint on the notebook, and a phone call made from the crime scene to the suspect—Clara felt confident. The prosecutor thanked her for her persistence, and the case finally went to the jury. The next day, the verdict came in: guilty. The missing clue had been found in the form of a simple notebook page, and it had been the evidence that cracked the case wide open. As Clara left the courthouse, Marcus patted her on the back. 'Good work, Clara. You always knew the evidence would lead the way.' Clara smiled. 'Sometimes, the simplest things speak the loudest.'

The Missing Clue