substantiation

[ suhb-stan-shee-ey-shuhn ]

noun

1. evidence sufficient to establish a thing as true, valid, or real; proof:

   The department may require employees to provide vouchers, receipts, or other substantiation for any fees or expenses claimed.

2. the act or process of establishing or proving the truth of something:

   For scientific substantiation of health effects, the nutrients in these vitamin capsules must first be accurately measured.

3. the act or instance of giving something material existence or concrete form:

   The protagonist is visited by a digital, partial substantiation of his late wife, awakening other ghosts from his past.

   The minister’s sermon was on Christ as the substantiation of God’s true love, true life, and true lineage.

Other Words From

• non·sub·stan·ti·a·tion noun
• re·sub·stan·ti·a·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of substantiation¹

First recorded in 1625–35; from Late Latin substantiātiōn-, stem of substantiātiō; substantiate ( def ), -ion ( def )

Example Sentences

He said he was “leery” of joining such a motion “without having a better understanding or substantiation of the allegations,” and asked for time to review the matter once Ms. Willis’s office responded.

From New York Times

"We don’t think there’s any substantiation of the need to raise capital," said Kevin Fromer, president and CEO of the Financial Services Forum, which represents large global banks.

From Reuters

“A lot of the substantiation is a sentence or two: ‘I raise my animals humanely,’” said Dena Jones, director of the Animal Welfare Institute’s farmed animal program.

From Seattle Times

The Paydar statement, released in February when the department filed its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking gave no substantiation for its claims.

From Washington Times

When a customer metes out a thumbs-down, a list of checkable options pops up, including such vague choices as “driver did not follow my delivery instructions” and “driver was unprofessional” that don’t require any substantiation.

From Seattle Times