corroborated

Corroborated is the adjective form of corroborate, meaning supported by additional evidence or testimony that confirms a claim or account. When a statement is corroborated, it has been strengthened by independent validation.

Etymology: from Latin corroborare “to strengthen,” from cor- “together” and roborare “to strengthen.” The term emphasizes the role of supplementary support in establishing reliability.

In law, corroborated testimony or evidence reinforces a witness’s account and can be important for establishing facts, credibility, or liability. In science, results are considered corroborated when independent replication or supporting data confirm the finding. In journalism, corroboration involves verifying facts through multiple sources or documents to reduce the likelihood of error or misinformation.

Limitations: Corroboration increases reliability but does not guarantee truth. The value of corroborating evidence depends on its independence, relevance, and quality, and it can be misleading if sources are biased, flawed, or in collusion. The process often requires careful assessment of how different pieces of evidence relate to the central claim.

See also: corroboration, corroborate.