probative

[ proh-buh-tiv, prob-uh- ]

adjective

1. serving or designed for testing or trial.
2. affording proof or evidence.

probative

/ -trɪ; ˈprəʊbətərɪ; ˈprəʊbətɪv /

adjective

1. serving to test or designed for testing
2. providing proof or evidence

Derived Forms

• ˈprobatively, adverb

Other Words From

• proba·tive·ly adverb
• non·proba·tive adjective
• non·proba·tory adjective
• un·proba·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of probative¹

1425–75; late Middle English < Middle French probatif < Latin probātīvus of proof. See probate, -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of probative¹

C15: from Late Latin probātīvus concerning proof

Example Sentences

“Although the State deferred certain questions, in many other instances, the grand jurors asked probative questions, and received complete answers from witnesses, without State interference,” Marlowe Sommer wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

In this case, though, Phelps ruled that Sarey’s drug use and intoxication is out of bounds, finding it “would be more prejudicial than probative.”

From Seattle Times

But, Bader said, "there was a lot of the evidence that came in was probably more prejudicial than probative, which is the standard for admissibility."

From Salon

Santos has produced so much ludicrous theater for news cameras that, in the hands of a probative interviewer with minimal fact-checking ability, some quality wild weirdness could have been mined from the situation.

From Salon

But Cohen said Bankman-Fried's "knowledge that lawyers were involved in structuring and documenting the loans would be probative of his good faith belief that there was nothing inappropriate."

From Reuters