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-sh(ə-)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

But the pizza videos show that people still yearn for that trace of meanness, that disregard for niceties — that implicit demonstration of a brutal capacity for honesty. —Willy Staley, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025

Following the protests, Black told NPR that more demonstrations were planned and that the 50501 Movement was only getting started. —Juliana Kim, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025

Pasillas joined several hundred people in Monday’s protest on the west side of the Capitol, a demonstration that was among a planned nationwide day of protests against the Trump administration. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 17 Feb. 2025

Student protesters in Iran clash with authorities The demonstrations began on Friday after the death on a 19-year-old student during a robbery on the campus of the University of Tehran. —Brie Stimson, Fox News, 16 Feb. 2025

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