probative

adjective

pro·​ba·​tive ˈprō-bə-tiv 

1

: serving to test or try : exploratory

2

: serving to prove : substantiating

Synonyms of probative

• supportive
• supporting
• confirming
• corroborative
• substantiating
• confirmational
• verifying

Examples of probative in a Sentence

no dearth of probative evidence for the theory of evolution

Recent Examples on the Web

Legal professionals must carefully weigh the probative value against potential juror backlash, educate the jury on the evidence's legitimacy, and consider whether to integrate AI chats cautiously or even forgo them entirely. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Our system already demands that evidence be relevant and probative. — Ivan J. Bates, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2026

This request is denied since these holes in the factual record, where defendants hold the pertinent backup evidence—should such evidence exist—are actually probative in assessing the reliability and accuracy, or lack thereof, of other representations by defendants about their actions more broadly. — New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025

Perhaps there is no more probative example of this when the current president would not rule out using American military force to take Greenland and/or the Panama Canal. — Letters To The Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Jan. 2025

Weinstein's lawyers argued before the trial that use of such testimony is more prejudicial than probative, but the judge who presided over the trial decided to allow it following a secret hearing. — Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 2 June 2022

In court, slang, generic references, and race can unfairly prejudice juries far beyond their actual probative value. — Dina Lapolt, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2019

Fulbright shepherded the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution through the Senate in 1964, but two years later, his probative hearings helped shift public opinion against the war. — James Goldgeier, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for probative

• creative
• locative
• nonnative
• rotative
• accommodative
• accumulative
• adjudicative
• administrative
• affiliative
• agglutinative
• ameliorative
• appreciative

Legal Definition

probative

adjective

pro·​ba·​tive ˈprō-bə-tiv 

1

: serving or tending to prove

evidence of the use of an alias by a defendant is often probative of nothing

—Case & Comment

compare prejudicial

2

: of or relating to proof

evidence with probative value