évidence

Évidence is a feminine French noun that denotes two related ideas. In common usage, it refers to the quality of being obvious, clear, or self-evident—something that is readily perceived or understood without the need for argument. In more formal contexts, however, French typically uses preuve or élément de preuve to refer to evidence that supports a claim; évidence in such contexts tends to carry the sense of obviousness rather than external validation.

Etymology and forms: the word comes from Latin evidens, evidentis, from videre “to see.” The related adjective is évident, and the adverb is évidemment. The noun can appear in phrases such as de toute évidence (obviously) and mettre en évidence (to highlight, to reveal).

Usage and nuance: évidence emphasizes intuitive clarity and perceivable truth rather than catalogued proof. It is common in literary, philosophical, and rhetorical discourse to discuss what is evident by reason or experience. In scientific or legal writing, the term évidence is rarely used to mean formal evidence; instead, speakers typically employ preuve, preuve matérielle, or élément de preuve to denote supporting data or testimony.

See also: The distinction between évidence and évidence juridique is a reflection of how languages handle distinction between obviousness and formally admissible proof. Related concepts include évidence, évidence apparente, and évidence de fait, which highlight different shades of clarity and perception in discourse.