verb
corroborate
kuh-RO-buh-rayt
Corroborate (verb) means to support or confirm a claim with additional evidence. Example: “Two witnesses corroborated her account of the accident.”
verb
1
To support or confirm a claim with additional evidence.
"First, the fireman may be killed. Second, he may not notice the signal at all. Third, in any case he will loyally corroborate his driver and the good old jury will discount that."
— Ernest Bramah, Max Carrados (1914)
"Two witnesses corroborated her account of the accident."
"The lab results corroborated the doctor's diagnosis."
How to use corroborate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo back up a statement or theory with extra proof.
Memory tip
Think of it as adding "strength" to a claim — the root word literally means "to strengthen".
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
corroborate a claim
corroborate evidence
corroborate a story
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- corroborates
- Past tense
- corroborated
- Comparative
- more corroborate
- Superlative
- most corroborate
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Two witnesses _____ her account of the accident.
Etymology
From Latin corroborare, "to strengthen," from com- ("together") plus roborare, "to strengthen" — ultimately from robur, "strength" (the same root behind "robust").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for corroborate
See all rhymes for corroborate →Frequently asked questions
What does “corroborate” mean?
The word “corroborate” means to support or confirm a claim with additional evidence. In plain terms, to back up a statement or theory with extra proof.
How do you pronounce “corroborate”?
“Corroborate” is pronounced kuh-RO-buh-rayt (/kəˈɹɑbəɹeɪ̯t/ in IPA).
How do you use “corroborate” in a sentence?
Here is “corroborate” used in a sentence: “Two witnesses corroborated her account of the accident.”
What part of speech is “corroborate”?
“Corroborate” is a verb.
Where does the word “corroborate” come from?
The word “corroborate” comes from Latin. From Latin corroborare, "to strengthen," from com- ("together") plus roborare, "to strengthen" — ultimately from robur, "strength" (the same root behind "robust").
