Corroborating Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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corroborating

[kəˈrɒbəreɪtɪŋ ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

legal context

Corroborating refers to the act of providing additional evidence or support to confirm a statement or belief. In legal terminology, it often means confirming the credibility of a witness or the validity of evidence presented in court.

Synonyms

confirming, substantiate, supporting.

Examples of usage

  • The witness provided corroborating testimony.
  • Several documents corroborate his account of events.
  • The scientist's findings corroborate previous research.
  • Her statement was corroborated by other individuals present.
Context #2 | Verb

general context

To corroborate means to back up or reinforce information presented through additional proof. It helps to enhance the trustworthiness of claims being made.

Synonyms

authenticate, validate, verify.

Examples of usage

  • The two studies corroborate each other's results.
  • The data corroborates the theory proposed by the researchers.
  • His report corroborated earlier findings in the investigation.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Law

  • In legal contexts, corroborating evidence supports other evidence, helping to establish the credibility of a claim.
  • For example, eyewitness accounts can be corroborated by video footage for stronger case support.
  • Without corroboration, a single testimony may lack reliability in court.

Science

  • In scientific studies, corroborating results from different experiments helps validate findings and theories.
  • Scientists often seek additional evidence through peer review to ensure accuracy in their claims.
  • Accurate data requires corroboration across multiple sources to reduce bias.

Psychology

  • Humans tend to seek corroborating evidence that confirms their beliefs, a phenomenon known as confirmation bias.
  • This cognitive bias can lead people to ignore evidence that contradicts their views.
  • Corroboration enhances reliability, as it encourages a balanced approach to information evaluation.

Pop Culture

  • In detective stories and movies, protagonists often gather corroborating evidence to solve mysteries and confirm the truth.
  • Shows like 'Law & Order' highlight the importance of corroborating testimonies to build strong cases.
  • Fans of true crime podcasts enjoy listening to details that corroborate different theories about unresolved cases.

Origin of 'corroborating'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Latin 'corroborare', which means 'to strengthen or confirm'.
  • It has been used in the English language since the late 16th century, showing its long-standing importance in discussions of truth.
  • The prefix 'cor-' means 'together', and 'roborare' means 'to strengthen', highlighting the idea of building evidence together.

The word 'corroborate' originates from the Latin term 'corroborare', which means 'to strengthen'. The Latin prefix 'co-' means 'together' and the root 'roborare' means 'to strengthen' or 'to make strong'. The use of the term in English can be traced back to the 16th century, where it began to take on a legal connotation. Initially, it described the action of confirming or supporting the validity of a statement or figure. Over time, it evolved into broader uses in various fields, particularly in law, science, and academic research, where validation through additional evidence became crucial for establishing credibility.


Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,999, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.