verification

American  

[ver-uh-fi-key-shuhn] / ˌvɛr ə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of verifying.

2. the state of being verified.

3. evidence that establishes or confirms the accuracy or truth of something.

   We could find no verification for his fantastic claims.

4. a formal assertion of the truth of something, as by oath or affidavit.

5. the process of research, examination, etc., required to prove or establish authenticity or validity.

6. Law. a short confirmatory affidavit at the end of a pleading or petition.

---

verification British  

/ ˌvɛrɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

1. establishment of the correctness of a theory, fact, etc

2. evidence that provides proof of an assertion, theory, etc

3. law

   1. (formerly) a short affidavit at the end of a pleading stating the pleader's readiness to prove his assertions

   2. confirmatory evidence

---

Other Word Forms

• nonverification noun
• preverification noun
• reverification noun
• unverificative adjective
• verificative adjective
• verificatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of verification

1515–25; < Medieval Latin vērificātiōn (stem of vērificātiō ), equivalent to vērificāt ( us ) (past participle of vērificāre; see verify, -ate ¹) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

Verification is an extra or final bit of proof that establishes something is true. To verify something is to make sure it's correct or true, so verification is an action that establishes the truth of something. Checking an ID is a verification of your age. Your bank will often ask for part of your social security number as verification of your identity. Scientists do research to establish verification for their theories. In all cases, verification is like a stamp of approval.

Example Sentences

“A more sophisticated trader would have been harder to catch, given the absence of identity verification on Polymarket,” Sethi said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Bills like the 2025 App Store Accountability Act, introduced to the House last year, would require age verification to download certain “age restricted” apps and parental consent for users under 18.

From Salon • Apr. 16, 2026

His proposals include mandatory age verification for under-15s across all platforms, a pan-European ban for that age group, and a requirement for platforms to re-check users' ages every six months.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

Even advanced theoretical models can miss key details, making experimental verification essential for understanding molecular structures.

From Science Daily • Apr. 7, 2026

Thus recent American and Soviet missions to Venus seem to have provided verification that the greenhouse effect is indeed the reason for the high surface temperature.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan