Legal Definitions - substantiate

To substantiate something means to provide enough credible evidence or information to prove that it is true, valid, or real.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of "substantiate":

• Example 1: A Business Expense Report

  Imagine an employee submits an expense report claiming reimbursement for a business lunch. To substantiate this expense, they must attach the original receipt showing the date, amount, and items purchased. Without this receipt, the company's accounting department cannot verify the legitimacy of the claim, and the expense would be considered unsubstantiated.

• Example 2: A Scientific Hypothesis

  A scientist proposes a new theory about how a certain chemical reaction occurs. To substantiate their hypothesis, they must conduct rigorous experiments, collect data, and present their findings in a way that demonstrates the theory's accuracy and reproducibility. If other scientists cannot replicate the results or if the data is insufficient, the hypothesis remains unsubstantiated.

• Example 3: A Consumer Complaint

  A customer contacts an online retailer, claiming that a recently delivered item arrived broken. To substantiate their complaint and receive a refund or replacement, the retailer might ask the customer to provide photographs of the damaged item and its packaging. These images serve as evidence to prove the customer's claim is true and not merely an assertion.