påvisa

Påvisa is a Swedish verb meaning to demonstrate or prove the existence, truth, or presence of something by presenting evidence, observations, or test results. The term is common in science, medicine, law, and investigative journalism, as well as in everyday language when a claim is supported by facts. It implies uncovering or revealing evidence rather than delivering a formal, conclusive proof, though the evidence may be strong enough to establish a fact in practice.

It is a transitive verb that requires a direct object, with frequent collocations such as påvisa ett samband (to establish a link), påvisa fel (to reveal an error), or påvisa närvaro (to show presence). In scientific writing it is often used with methods like tester, observation, or analysis: “studien påvisade …” The term can also appear in investigative reporting and legal texts to indicate that evidence has been found or presented.

Grammatically, påvisa is a regular compound verb. Infinitive: påvisa; presens: påvisar; preteritum: påvisade; supinum: påvisat. Passive form: påvisas. The related noun is påvisning, meaning the act of proving or detecting something, or the result that shows evidence.

Synonyms and distinctions: bevisa is stronger and closer to formal proof; demonstrera and visa convey showing or illustrating. Påvisa emphasizes demonstrating existence or effect through evidence and detection, often preceding a final or formal conclusion in scientific or legal contexts. The word is used across formal and semi-formal registers, making it a common term for describing the process of evidencing claims.