confirmation

noun

con·​fir·​ma·​tion ˌkän-fər-ˈmā-shən 

1

: an act or process of confirming: such as

a(1)

: a Christian rite conferring the gift of the Holy Spirit and among Protestants full church membership

(2)

: a ceremony especially of Reform Judaism confirming youths in their faith

b

: the ratification of an executive act by a legislative body

the confirmation of a Supreme Court nominee

2

a

: confirming proof : corroboration

found confirmation of a theory

The report needed confirmation.

b

: the process of supporting a statement by evidence

confirmational

ˌkän-fər-ˈmā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms of confirmation

• evidence
• proof
• testimony
• documentation
• testament

Examples of confirmation in a Sentence

Reporters awaited confirmation from the army about the battle.

We don't have independent confirmation of the facts.

Final confirmation came only after the investigation was completed.

You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your order.

You will receive confirmation of your order by e-mail.

Many senators are opposed to his confirmation as a federal judge.

Recent Examples on the Web

He's expected to be replaced by Kevin Warsh, whose confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee was held last week. —Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026

That crossover is the final confirmation required to make this setup solid. —CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026

If the Premier League’s bottom club hoped to draw a symbolic line under their season from hell with the confirmation of relegation from the Premier League, they were left sadly disappointed by events at Molineux in the first game since their fate was sealed. —Steve Madeley, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026

His confirmation process was ugly, and some of his actions during his first few months on the job exasperated the White House. —Michael Scherer, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see confirm

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing confirmation

• gender confirmation surgery

Rhymes for confirmation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

confirmation

noun

con·​fir·​ma·​tion ˌkän-fər-ˈmā-shən 

1

: an act or process of confirming

2

: a religious ceremony admitting a person to full privileges in a church or synagogue

3

: something that confirms : proof

confirmatory

kən-ˈfər-mə-ˌtōr-ē, 

-ˌtȯr-

adjective

Legal Definition

confirmation

noun

con·​fir·​ma·​tion ˌkän-fər-ˈmā-shən 

1

: the act or process of confirming, assuring, or upholding

seeking confirmation of the agreement

specifically : the ratification of an executive act by a legislative body

senate confirmation of the Supreme Court nominee

2

: something that confirms: as

a

: an express or implied contract by which a person makes a voidable agreement binding

specifically : a definite expression or written memorandum that verifies or substantiates an agreement previously made orally or informally

b

in the civil law of Louisiana : a declaration whereby a person corrects the parts of an obligation that are null to make them enforceable

c

: a conveyance by which valid title to an estate is transferred to a person already in possession or by which an estate is increased