Onbevestigde

Onbevestigde is a Dutch adjective meaning not confirmed or unverified. It is used to describe information, statements, claims, or sources that have not been corroborated by independent evidence, authorities, or official records. When a report or assertion is labeled onbevestigde, it signals that the information should be treated with caution and that verification is pending.

The word is formed from the negating prefix on- attached to bevestigde (the past participle of bevestigen, to confirm). As an adjective, onbevestigde agrees with the noun it modifies (onbevestigde berichten, onbevestigde bronnen, onbevestigde claims).

Common in journalism, research, and official communications to avoid presenting unverified material as fact. In legal or policy contexts, onbevestigde allegations may be noted as pending investigation or subject to confirmation. The label helps distinguish between established facts and material that requires further corroboration.

Examples illustrate usage: “Onbevestigde berichten over een gebeurtenis werden op sociale media gedeeld voordat officiële bronnen bevestigden wat er gebeurd was.” In English-language reporting, onbevestigde is usually translated as “unconfirmed” or “unverified.” The term thus functions as a cautionary descriptor that can be updated to reflect new evidence, turning onbevestigde information into confirmed facts or retracting it if disproven.

See also: unconfirmed, unverified, rumor, verification.