1
Support an account
Provide independent information consistent with what a person or document has reported.
Example
Several witnesses corroborate the driver's account of the accident.
corroborate
/kəˈrɒbəreɪt/ · kuh-ROB-uh-raytverb
Confirm or support a statement with additional evidence.
Use corroborate when an independent source, witness, or dataset adds evidence that supports an existing claim or account.
What corroborate Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Confirm a finding
Add separate data that strengthens confidence in a research result or interpretation.
Example
Independent measurements corroborated the laboratory's initial finding.
3
Verify a historical detail
Use material from another source to support a date, event, or claim in an existing record.
Example
Tree-ring evidence helped corroborate the dates recorded in the ancient chronicle.
Use corroborate Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
Several witnesses corroborate the driver's account of the accident.
Independent tree-ring evidence helped corroborate the dates recorded in the ancient chronicle.
The second survey corroborated the original study's finding across a larger population.
Precision Matters
Corroborate overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
corroborate
vs.Usually involves added evidence from another source.
confirm
Broadly establishes that something is true or correct.
corroborate
vs.Strengthens a claim through consistent supporting evidence.
verify
Checks accuracy against a standard, record, or direct examination.
corroborate
vs.Often adds independent support to an account already made.
substantiate
Provides enough evidence to establish that a claim has substance.
corroborate
vs.Confirms a specific claim or account through supporting evidence.
validate
Supports the truth, soundness, or value of a method, instrument, or finding.
Test corroborate in Context
A separate source of evidence supports the dates already stated in the chronicle.
1
The chronicle assigns the city’s expansion to the late twelfth century; dates from independently analysed tree rings closely match that timeline and therefore corroborate the written account.
As used in the text, “corroborate” most nearly means…