evidentiary

adjective

ev·​i·​den·​tia·​ry ˌe-və-ˈden-chə-rē 

-chē-ˌer-ē

1

: being, relating to, or affording evidence

photographs of evidentiary value

2

: conducted so that evidence may be presented

an evidentiary hearing

Examples of evidentiary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The federal judge overseeing the case must decide whether there should be an evidentiary hearing on the motion to suppress, as requested by the defendant’s counsel. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 30 Sep. 2026

The family and courts then improvised around evidentiary power that nobody had planned for. — Jihun Joun, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2026

The matter is now in the hands of SEIU International, whose president, April Verrett, can appoint an officer to oversee evidentiary hearings on the allegations. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Diamond began in May to hold evidentiary hearings that included testimony about potential conflicts of interest within the DA's office. — Eva Andersen, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1780, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for evidentiary

• plenipotentiary

Legal Definition

evidentiary

adjective

ev·​i·​den·​tia·​ry ˌe-və-ˈden-chə-rē, -chē-ˌer-ē 

1

: being, relating to, or affording evidence

photographs of evidentiary value

2

: conducted so that evidence may be presented

an evidentiary hearing

evidentiarily adverb