# attested

/əˈtɛstɪd/ (US) · /ɐtˈɛstɪd/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/attested
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

proven to be true or real because there is clear evidence or a record of it. You use this when you want to say that something is officially documented.

For teachers: supported by evidence or confirmed through official records. Often used in historical or linguistic contexts to describe forms or events whose existence is verified by written documents.

## Examples

- The ancient city's existence is well attested in historical texts.
- Linguists use an asterisk to mark words that are reconstructed rather than attested in surviving manuscripts.
- While many myths are purely oral, this particular legend is attested in several thirteenth-century scrolls, providing researchers with a concrete timeline for its development.

## Usage notes

- Often appears as a participial adjective following 'well' or 'widely'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.