Verify Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms verify American [ver-uh-fahy] / ˈvɛr əˌfaɪ /

verb (used with object)

verified, verifying

1. to prove the truth of, as by evidence or testimony; confirm; substantiate.

   Events verified his prediction.

2. to ascertain the truth or correctness of, as by examination, research, or comparison.

   to verify a spelling.

   Synonyms: validate, authenticate

3. to act as ultimate proof or evidence of; serve to confirm.

4. Law.

   1. to prove or confirm (an allegation).

   2. to state to be true, especially in legal use, formally or upon oath.

verify British / ˈvɛrɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to prove to be true; confirm; substantiate

2. to check or determine the correctness or truth of by investigation, reference, etc

3. law to add a verification to (a pleading); substantiate or confirm (an oath)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• nonverifiable adjective
• preverify verb (used with object)
• reverify verb (used with object)
• unverifiability noun
• unverifiable adjective
• verifiability noun
• verifiable adjective
• verifiableness noun
• verifiably adverb
• verifier noun

Etymology

Origin of verify

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English verifien, from Middle French verifier, from Medieval Latin vērificāre, from vēri- (combining form of vērus “true”) + -ficāre -fy

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.

The Sheriff’s Department said it was aware of those notes but did not verify their authenticity.

From Los Angeles Times

Australia recently became the first country in the world to ban most social media platforms for children under 16, making it mandatory for platforms to verify users' ages and disable accounts by underage users.

From BBC

The sheriff’s office said it was aware of those notes, but did not verify their authenticity.

From Los Angeles Times

BBC Sport has verified the following evidence relating to four individuals cleared to compete as neutrals:

From BBC

Media restrictions and limited access in Gaza have prevented AFP from independently verifying casualty figures or freely covering the fighting.

From Barron's

Related Words

• authenticate
• certify
• check
• corroborate
• demonstrate
• double-check
• establish
• find out
• justify
• prove
• substantiate

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.