demonstration

noun

dem·​on·​stra·​tion ˌde-mən-ˈstrā-shən 

1

: an act, process, or means of demonstrating to the intelligence

a demonstration of how to prune a tree

: such as

a(1)

: conclusive evidence : proof

a demonstration of her guilt

(2)

mathematics : derivation sense 5

b

: a showing of the merits of a product or service to a prospective consumer

a vacuum cleaner demonstration

2

: an outward expression or display

a demonstration of compassion

3

: a show of armed force

4

: a public display of group feelings toward a person or cause

peaceful demonstrations against the government

anti-war demonstrations

demonstrational

ˌde-mən-ˈstrā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

adjective

Synonyms

• demo [British]
• rally

Examples of demonstration in a Sentence

I went to a sculpture demonstration last weekend.

One of the instructors gave a demonstration of how to prune a tree.

Would you mind giving us a demonstration so that we can see how the machine works?

He brought along a copy of the software for demonstration.

Students took part in several nonviolent demonstrations against the government.

The latest tests are a clear demonstration that the vaccine works.

Many people sent cards and flowers in demonstration of their sympathy.

Recent Examples on the Web

Congress formed the agency after witnessing the huge participation in Earth Day demonstrations across the country, the EPA says. —Solcyré Burga, TIME, 21 Apr. 2024

The continuing demonstration has upset other students, including those who found the strident anti-Zionist stance of the protest threatening and antisemitic. —Sharon Otterman, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024

Almost 50 protesters had taken part in the demonstration, the spokesperson said. —Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024

The demonstrations were staged in response to the company’s $1.2 billion joint contract with Amazon, Project Nimbus, which has been ongoing since 2021. —Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024

Enjoy environmental and nature education demonstrations, belly dance class, goat yoga, park naturalist, vendors and more. —Allison Kiehl, The Enquirer, 16 Apr. 2024

Activists on social media referred to the demonstrations as a coordinated day of economic protest of the Israel-Gaza war. —Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 15 Apr. 2024

During the demonstration, a police officer was struck in the face by a rock or piece or concrete thrown by an unidentified protester, losing teeth and suffering a brain injury, his lawyers said. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2024

Twenty protesters at Pomona College were arrested after storming and occupying the president’s office during a pro-Palestinian demonstration. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English demonstracioun, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French demonstration, demustracioun, borrowed from Latin dēmonstrātiōn-, dēmonstrātiō "action of pointing out, description, explanation" (Late Latin, "deduction, proof"), from dēmonstrāre "to indicate, describe, show" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at demonstrate

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing demonstration

• counter-demonstration

Kids Definition

demonstration

noun

dem·​on·​stra·​tion ˌdem-ən-ˈstrā-shən 

1

: an act, process, or means of demonstrating the truth of something:

a

: convincing evidence

b

: an explanation (as of a theory) by experiment

c

: a course of reasoning intended to prove that a conclusion must be true when certain conditions are accepted

d

: a showing or using of a product for sale to display its good points

2

: an outward expression or display

a demonstration of joy

3

: a show of armed force

4

: a public display of group feelings toward a person or cause

Medical Definition

demonstration

noun

dem·​on·​stra·​tion ˌdem-ən-ˈstrā-shən 

: an act, process, or means of demonstrating to the intelligence

especially : a proof by experiment

a demonstration of the neutralization of an acid by a base