evidentiary
gb/ˌɛvɪdˈɛnʃiɛɹi/ us/ˌɛvɪdˈɛnʃiɛɹi/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
legal
C1
property
1
legal evidence-related
connected with evidence in a court case
Usage pattern:
evidentiary [hearing/rule/issue/record]
Common mistake:
Do not use it to mean “obvious”; that word is evident.
Synonyms
evidence-related (plainer and less technical)
|
evidential (very close in meaning, but less specifically legal)
|
probative (legal and technical; emphasizes proving a point)
Antonyms
non-evidentiary (not related to or used as evidence)
|
inadmissible (not allowed to be used as evidence in court)
Collocations
evidentiary hearing
|evidentiary rule
|evidentiary issue
|evidentiary record
|evidentiary standard
|evidentiary burden
|evidentiary ruling
|evidentiary objection
|evidentiary matter
|evidentiary proceeding
Themes
law
|courts
|evidence
Examples
- The judge scheduled an evidentiary hearing for next month.
- The appeal focused on several evidentiary issues raised during the trial.
- Lawyers spent the morning arguing over evidentiary rules.
Learner examples
- The court set an evidentiary hearing.
- The lawyer raised an evidentiary issue.
adjective
formal
C1
property
2
serving as proof
able to help prove that something is true
Usage pattern:
evidentiary [value/support/basis] for [something]
Common mistake:
In everyday writing, evidence-based, supporting, or proof is often clearer than evidentiary.
Synonyms
evidential (very close, somewhat more general)
|
probative (technical; emphasizes usefulness in proving something)
|
supporting (simpler and less formal)
Antonyms
irrelevant (not useful for proving the point at issue)
|
unsubstantiated (not supported by evidence)
|
non-evidentiary (not serving as evidence)
Collocations
evidentiary value
|evidentiary support
|evidentiary basis
|evidentiary significance
|evidentiary weight
|evidentiary material
|evidentiary role
Themes
evidence
|research
|law
|argumentation
Examples
- The emails had little evidentiary value without proof of who sent them.
- The report provides an evidentiary basis for the agency's decision.
- Researchers questioned the evidentiary weight of the small study.
Learner examples
- The photo has evidentiary value.
- The claim needs evidentiary support.
Grammar
Dictionary form
evidentiary
IPA
GB/ˌɛvɪdˈɛnʃiɛɹi/
US/ˌɛvɪdˈɛnʃiɛɹi/
Syllables & stress
evid - en - tiary (3 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (tiary)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: evidentiary
- Comparative: evidentiarier
- Superlative: evidentiariest
Expressions
evidentiary burden
1/ˌɛvɪdˈɛnʃiɛɹi bˈɚdən/
fixed phrase
legal
duty to produce evidence
the duty to give enough evidence about a legal issue
Examples
- The defendant had an evidentiary burden to raise the issue before trial.
- Once the plaintiff met the evidentiary burden, the case could proceed.
- The court found that the agency had not satisfied its evidentiary burden.
evidentiary foundation
1/ˌɛvɪdˈɛnʃiɛɹi faʊndˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
legal
basis for admitting evidence
basic proof needed before a court accepts an item as evidence
Examples
- The prosecutor called a records custodian to lay the evidentiary foundation for the documents.
- The judge excluded the photo because the witness had not established an evidentiary foundation.
- Before the expert could discuss the test results, counsel had to provide an evidentiary foundation.
evidentiary hearing
1/ˌɛvɪdˈɛnʃiɛɹi hˈɪɹɪŋ/
fixed phrase
legal
court hearing about evidence
a court meeting where evidence is presented or discussed
Examples
- The judge ordered an evidentiary hearing to decide whether the confession was admissible.
- At the evidentiary hearing, both sides called witnesses.
- The court denied the request without holding an evidentiary hearing.
evidentiary record
1/ˌɛvɪdˈɛnʃiɛɹi ɹˈɛkɚd/
fixed phrase
legal
official body of evidence
the official collection of evidence in a case
Examples
- The appeals court reviewed the evidentiary record from the trial.
- The judge allowed the parties to supplement the evidentiary record with new documents.
- The decision must be supported by the evidentiary record.
evidentiary rules
1/ˌɛvɪdˈɛnʃiɛɹi ɹˈulz/
fixed phrase
legal
rules for using evidence
court rules about what evidence can be used
Examples
- The judge reminded the jury that evidentiary rules limit what they may consider.
- The lawyer argued that the documents were excluded under basic evidentiary rules.
- Training programs teach officers how evidentiary rules affect investigations.
evidentiary ruling
1/ˌɛvɪdˈɛnʃiɛɹi ɹˈulɪŋ/
fixed phrase
legal
judge's evidence decision
a judge's decision about whether evidence can be used
Examples
- The defense challenged the judge's evidentiary ruling on appeal.
- One key evidentiary ruling kept the video out of the trial.
- The court made several evidentiary rulings before opening statements.
evidentiary standard
1/ˌɛvɪdˈɛnʃiɛɹi stˈændɚd/
fixed phrase
legal
required level of proof
the amount or kind of evidence needed under a rule
Examples
- The policy uses a lower evidentiary standard than a criminal trial.
- The court explained the evidentiary standard needed for a search warrant.
- Different agencies may apply different evidentiary standards.
evidentiary value
1/ˌɛvɪdˈɛnʃiɛɹi vˈælju/
fixed phrase
formal
usefulness as evidence
how useful something is for proving something
Examples
- The damaged video still had evidentiary value.
- The chain-of-custody problem reduced the evidence's evidentiary value.
- A handwritten note may have strong evidentiary value if its author can be identified.