proven

Proven is the past participle of the verb prove and, when used as an adjective, means demonstrated to be true or established by evidence. It commonly appears in phrases like a proven method, proven results, or a proven track record, signaling that claims have been tested or verified.

Etymology and usage notes. The verb prove derives from Old French prouver and Latin probare. In English, the past participle has two widely used forms: proved and proven. British English tends to favor proved as the standard participle, while American English widely accepts proven, especially in formal, scientific, or legal contexts and when used attributively as an adjective.

Domains and nuances. In scientific, legal, and policy writing, proven is often preferred when referring to conclusions supported by consistent evidence. Proving a claim in a legal or formal sense may rely on standards of evidence or proof that differ by jurisdiction. As an adjective, proven emphasizes demonstrated reliability or effectiveness, whereas proven can also occur as a complement in discussions of evidence-based practice, experiments, or evaluation results.

Related terms. Related concepts include proof (the state or fact of being proven), prove (the verb), and provenance (the origin or source of something). While related, provenance is not interchangeable with proven. The distinction between using proven or proved largely aligns with regional and stylistic preferences rather than a strict rule.

See also: prove, proof, provenance, evidence-based, verification.