substantiate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to establish by proof or competent evidence.
to substantiate a charge.
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to give substantial existence to.
to substantiate an idea through action.
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to affirm as having substance; give body to; strengthen.
to substantiate a friendship.
verb
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to establish as valid or genuine
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to give form or real existence to
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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substantiationnoun
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substantiatornoun
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substantiatableadjective
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substantiativeadjective
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unsubstantiatableadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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substantiatesimple
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substantiatessimple
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have substantiatedperfect
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has substantiatedperfect
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am substantiatingprogressive
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are substantiatingprogressive
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is substantiatingprogressive
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have been substantiatingperfect progressive
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has been substantiatingperfect progressive
Past
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substantiatedsimple
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had substantiatedperfect
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was substantiatingprogressive
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were substantiatingprogressive
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had been substantiatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of substantiate
First recorded in 1650–60; from New Latin substantiātus (past participle of substantiāre ), equivalent to Latin substanti(a) substance + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
To substantiate is to give support to a claim. We’d really like to believe in the Tooth Fairy; however, more evidence is needed to substantiate her existence (besides that quarter in your pocket). Substantiate is related to the word substantial, which means "solid." So, to substantiate a claim is to make it solid or believable. If the evidence given in support of an argument is weak and unconvincing, that evidence can be described as insubstantial. Of course, in special cases like the Tooth Fairy, having substantial evidence doesn’t seem to matter; fans just keep on believing.
Vocabulary lists containing substantiate
100 Top "SAT" Words
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 6
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Such errors have led to the faulty identification of “longevity zones,” areas where supposedly everyone lives longer due to lifestyle or location—but where subsequent studies fail to substantiate the claims.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
She said firms should do proper skin analysis over a period of time to substantiate any claims made by volunteer groups or in advertising.
From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026
State legislative panels convened to investigate the allegations also fizzled out after they were unable to substantiate such claims.
From Salon • Apr. 12, 2026
Officials said they have no information to substantiate the claim that the grenades were kept overnight in their trucks or home.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026
But there was an unmistakable grooming about him, too; he was not one of those who used untidiness to substantiate their radicalism.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
