the burden of proof
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The obligation to prove something. The burden of proof is on the party holding the affirmative [because no one can prove a negative, except by reductto ad absurdum].
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “the burden of proof” mean?
The obligation to prove something. The burden of proof is on the party holding the affirmative [because no one can prove a negative, except by reductto ad absurdum].
Is “the burden of proof” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.