prove
To prove means to establish a disputed claim as true by evidence or reasoning.
In legal proceedings, the plaintiff in a civil case or the prosecutor in a criminal case bears the burden of proof. A criminal defendant is not required to prove innocence but may challenge the prosecution’s case by creating reasonable doubt.
The burden of proof varies by context. In civil cases, a claim must generally be proven by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning more likely than not. In criminal cases, guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, the highest standard of proof.
[Last reviewed in August of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team]
Wex