What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
corroborate
Example
The witness's testimony corroborated the victim's account of the crime. [corroborated: past tense]
Example
The data from the study corroborates our hypothesis. [corroborates: present tense]
validate
Example
The test results validated our assumptions about the product's performance. [validated: past tense]
Example
The certificate will validate your qualifications for the job. [validate: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Validate is more commonly used than corroborate in everyday language. Validate is a more general term that can be used in a variety of contexts, while corroborate is more specific and often used in legal or investigative settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between corroborate and validate?
Both corroborate and validate can be used in formal or professional contexts, but corroborate may be perceived as more technical or specialized due to its association with legal or investigative language.