English Reference

Word

demonstration

Phoneticsdemon·stra·tion

US/ˌdɛmənˈstɹeɪʃən/

UK/dˌɛmənstɹˈeɪʃən/

Definitions

01showing how something works

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

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

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

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

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

02a public protest

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

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

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

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

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

03showing a feeling

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

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

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

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

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

Antonyms

04a logical proof

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Mathematics Academic · Formal

n. a logical proof that shows why something must be true.

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

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

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

Antonyms

disproofrefutation

05military show of force

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal

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

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

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

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

Synonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “demonstration” in context.

Verb

01. give a demonstration

“The chef will give a demonstration of how to prepare the traditional dish.”

verb + noun

02. organize a demonstration

“Local activists are planning to organize a demonstration against the new tax laws.”

verb + noun

03. provide a demonstration

“The software developer provided a demonstration of the new features to the clients.”

verb + noun

Adjective

04. clear demonstration

“The experiment was a clear demonstration of how chemicals react under pressure.”

adj + noun

05. peaceful demonstration

“Thousands of people joined the peaceful demonstration in the city center.”

adj + noun

06. practical demonstration

“The science teacher gave a practical demonstration of the laws of physics.”

adj + noun

Noun

07. demonstration of support

“The crowd's applause was a powerful demonstration of support for the speaker.”

noun + of + noun

Preposition

08. at a demonstration

“Several journalists were present at the demonstration to cover the event.”

prep + noun

Real-World Examples

“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

Etymology

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.

Word family

NOUN

demonstration(B2)

Related words

Domains

MathematicsPhilosophy

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Common
Level
B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
Updated

QR code

englishreference.com/q/demonstration

English Reference