# evidentiary

/ˌɛvɪˈdɛnʃiɛɹi/ (US) · /ˌɛvɪdˈɛnʃjəɹi/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/evidentiary
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

related to proof or evidence used in court. You use it to talk about rules or facts that help decide what is true in a legal case.

For teachers: Pertaining to evidence presented to establish facts in legal proceedings. Often modifies procedural nouns such as 'hearing', 'standard', or 'burden' to indicate connection to admissibility or weight of proof.

## Examples

- The lawyer checks the evidentiary rules before the trial.
- The judge holds an evidentiary hearing to decide which documents the jury can see.
- The appellate court overturned the verdict after finding that the trial judge had admitted evidentiary material without establishing its chain of custody.

## Usage notes

- Typically placed before the noun it modifies, especially in legal collocations like 'evidentiary hearing'.

---

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.