English Reference
noun

demonstration

n.
US /ˌdɛmənˈstɹeɪʃən/ UK /dˌɛmənstɹˈeɪʃən/ demon·stra·tion UK spelling demonstrations

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    an act of showing someone how to use a product or how a process works.

    the act of illustrating or explaining a process or product through practical application.

    Simple

    The chef gave a quick demonstration of how to make the perfect pasta dough.

    In context

    The technical team provided a comprehensive demonstration of the new software, highlighting the security features that distinguish it from previous versions.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    a public meeting or march where many people show they disagree with something.

    a public display of group opinion, typically taking the form of a protest march or rally.

    Simple

    Thousands of people joined the demonstration to ask for better pay for teachers.

    In context

    The peaceful demonstration filled the city square, with organisers calling for immediate legislative reform regarding environmental protections.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    a way of showing a feeling or quality through your actions.

    an outward expression or manifestation of a specific feeling, quality, or ability.

    Simple

    The team's victory was a great demonstration of their hard work and skill.

    In context

    His calm response during the crisis was a remarkable demonstration of leadership under extreme pressure.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced AcademicFormal Math

    a logical proof that shows why something must be true.

    the process of establishing a truth by a systematic logical argument or mathematical proof.

    Simple

    The professor provided a clear demonstration of the theorem on the blackboard.

    In context

    The paper offers a rigorous demonstration of the hypothesis, relying on data collected over a ten-year longitudinal study.

    disproofrefutation
  5. 05 C1 Advanced Formal

    a show of military power intended to warn or impress others.

    a show of military force or readiness intended to intimidate an enemy or deter aggression.

    Simple

    The navy's demonstration in the bay was meant to discourage the rebels.

    In context

    The deployment of the carrier strike group was a calculated demonstration of naval superiority intended to stabilise the region.

When the synthetic DNA was built in the laboratory, it produced a functioning virus—an important demonstration that AI can learn enough about a biological system to design something that works in the real world.

Phys.org· 16 Aug 2026

The 24-hour industrial action began at 07:00 BST on Thursday and ended at 07:00 on Friday, but there were no picket line demonstrations.

BBC News· 25 Jun 2026

From Middle English demonstracioun, from Old French demonstration, from Latin dēmōnstrātiōnem, from dēmōnstrāre (“show or explain”), from dē- (“of or concerning”) + mōnstrāre (“show”). Morphologically demonstrate + -ion.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin dēmōnstrātiō
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated