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 Osano

… 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 deals signal further mainstream adoption of the technology as studios look for proof of concept and tech companies look for a foothold into the industry. —Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Dec. 2024

With its proof of concept and a big organization backing a small brand, 100 Coconuts soon got distribution at KeHe, UNFI, Muscle Foods, hundreds of Walmarts, Gopuff, HEB, Safeway, Target, Whole Foods, HEB, Winn Dixie, and 1,100 Publix locations along with a long list of others. —Louis Biscotti, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

The proof of concept season will begin in April, and there are multiple venues already booked along with multiple fighters signed. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024

Built primarily to find out if helicopters could fly in the cold, thin atmosphere, Ingenuity was expected to make five flights over 30 days as a proof of concept. —William Harwood, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above