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

Banks need to develop a culture that embraces collaboration, innovation and continuous learning and pair this with execution – driving adoption of AI beyond proofs of concept to scale it for value. —Michael Abbott, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025

The company’s success in dermatology serves as a proof of concept for its broader vision: a future where healthcare is personalized, precise, and powered by a deep understanding of the human microbiome. —WWD, 14 Feb. 2025

The proof of concept, Weapons and Their Names, had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2025

The team agonized over the shoot and post-production, intent on making a pilot that was ready to air, not just a proof of concept. —Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above