What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
confirm
Example
The DNA test confirmed that he was the father. [confirm: verb]
Example
Can you confirm the time of the meeting? [confirm: verb]
corroborate
Example
The witness's testimony corroborated the victim's account of the crime. [corroborate: verb]
Example
The data from the study corroborated our hypothesis. [corroborated: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Confirm is more common in everyday language than corroborate, and can be used in a wider range of contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between confirm and corroborate?
Corroborate is typically more formal and legalistic than confirm, and is often used in legal or academic contexts.
