# corroborate

/kɝˈɑbɝˌeɪt/ (US) · /kəɹˈɒbəɹˌeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/corroborate
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to confirm with evidence

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to support a statement or story by providing new evidence that shows it is true.

For teachers: to confirm or support a finding, statement, or theory with additional evidence. Transitive; requires a direct object such as a claim, story, or testimony.

- The witness was able to corroborate the driver's story about the accident.
- Recent archaeological findings corroborate the historical accounts of the city's sudden destruction in the third century.

Usage: Commonly used in legal, scientific, and journalistic contexts to describe the validation of a claim.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse this with 'collaborate' (to work together). Remind them that 'corroborate' is about evidence and truth.

### 2. to strengthen

verb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

to make something stronger or more solid.

For teachers: to make strong or to strengthen a physical or abstract entity. This sense is largely archaic in modern general-service English.

- The new laws were intended to corroborate the power of the central government.
- The king sought to corroborate his position by forming strategic alliances with neighboring territories.

Usage: In modern English, 'strengthen' or 'reinforce' is almost always preferred for physical or political contexts.

Teaching tip: This sense is rare; students will mostly encounter it in older literature or very formal legal documents.

## Examples

- The witness's testimony corroborates the suspect's story.
- The forensic evidence found at the scene corroborates the victim's account of the events.
- While the initial report suggested a minor accident, the subsequent investigation by the insurance company corroborates a more serious structural failure.

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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.