proof of concept

noun

plural proofs of concept

: something that demonstrates the feasibility of a concept (such as a product idea or a business plan)

Even if it succeeds, the $5.9 billion reactor will be just a proof of concept, with commercial fusion power still decades away.

—Corey S. Powell

Malware and virus-writing used to be something hobbyist hackers did for fun, as proofs of concept. Not anymore.

—Mat Honan

—often hyphenated when used before another noun

No invention is worth anything without the proof-of-concept prototype.

—Shintaro Asano

… proof-of-concept experiments funded with public money and years away from any commercial application, were sponsored by university biology departments.

—Andrew Curry

Examples of proof of concept in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The team frames the work as a proof of concept for a new category of PTSD treatment. —Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 June 2026

While a 100kW motor is far too small to lift a commercial airliner, the Strathclyde team views this success as the definitive proof of concept. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 June 2026

The code is more of a proof of concept of the general shape that a theory of quantum gravity should take. —Quanta Magazine, 3 June 2026

The new proof of concept is 78 million views and a community that already knows your name. —Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 2 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above