corroborate

/kəˌrɑbəˈreɪt/

/kəˈrɒbəreɪt/

Other forms: corroborated; corroborates; corroborating

To corroborate is to back someone else’s story. If you swear to your teacher that you didn't throw the spitball, and your friends corroborate your story by promising that you were concentrating on math homework, she might actually believe you.

For example, a witness in court corroborates the testimony of others, and further experimentation can corroborate a scientific theory. Near synonyms are substantiate and confirm. Corroborate, originally meaning "to support or strengthen," was borrowed from Latin corrōborāre, formed from the prefix cor- "completely" plus rōborāre "to strengthen" (from rōbur "strength").

Definitions of corroborate

1. verb

   give evidence for
   synonyms: validate

   types:

   circumstantiate

   give circumstantial evidence for

   type of:

   confirm, reassert

   strengthen or make more firm
2. verb

   support with evidence or authority or make more certain or confirm
   synonyms: bear out, support, underpin

   type of:

   agree, check, correspond, fit, gibe, jibe, match, tally

   be compatible, similar, or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
3. verb

   establish or strengthen as with new evidence or facts
   synonyms: affirm, confirm, substantiate, support, sustain

   types:

   back, back up

   establish as valid or genuine

   vouch

   give supporting evidence

   verify

   confirm the truth of

   demonstrate, establish, prove, shew, show

   establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment

   document

   support or supply with references

   validate

   prove valid; show or confirm the validity of something

   check, check off, mark, mark off, tick, tick off

   put a check mark on or near or next to

   ascertain, assure, check, control, ensure, insure, see, see to it

   be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something

   check

   verify by consulting a source or authority

   prove oneself

   show one's ability or courage

   prove

   prove formally; demonstrate by a mathematical, formal proof

   source

   specify the origin of

   contradict, negate

   prove negative; show to be false

   stultify

   prove to be of unsound mind or demonstrate someone's incompetence