Meaning & use
conclusive evidence
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountableformal
Proof so strong that it settles a question and leaves no reasonable doubt.
Grammar: Uncountable: there is conclusive evidence, not a conclusive evidence.
Patterns
- conclusive evidence of something
- conclusive evidence that something is true
Police found conclusive evidence that the driver had been speeding.
Scientists still lack conclusive evidence that the drug works.
The DNA test was conclusive evidence of his innocence.
Common combinations
- find conclusive evidence
- Investigators found conclusive evidence at the scene.
- lack conclusive evidence
- The study lacks conclusive evidence for its claim.
- provide conclusive evidence
- The video provides conclusive evidence of the theft.
- no conclusive evidence
- There is no conclusive evidence that the plan will work.
- conclusive evidence of guilt
- The jury saw conclusive evidence of guilt.
Synonyms and how they differ
- definitive proof
- Definitive proof stresses that the answer is final, while conclusive evidence stresses that it ends the argument.
- hard evidence
- Hard evidence is solid, factual material, but it is not always enough on its own to settle a question.
- irrefutable proof
- Irrefutable proof means that no one can argue against it, which is a little stronger than conclusive.
Opposites
Word family
- conclude verb
- to reach a decision or end something
- conclusion noun
- a final decision or the end of something
- conclusively adverb
- in a way that settles the matter
- inconclusive adjective
- not leading to a firm answer
Commonly confused: conclusive evidence or conclusion?
conclusive evidence vs conclusion
A conclusion is a decision reached or the final part, while conclusive evidence is proof strong enough to settle a matter.
Practice
The fingerprints on the weapon were _____ evidence that he had been at the scene.
Choose one answer.
Conclusive means proof strong enough to settle the matter. Inconclusive, vague and doubtful all express uncertainty and contradict the sentence.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “conclusive evidence”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.