The Difference Between Collaborate and Corroborate: A Simple Guide

Understanding Collaborate vs. Corroborate

It can be easy to mix up words that look or sound the same. Today, we will learn about two words: collaborate and corroborate. These words have different meanings and are used in different ways.

History of the Words

Collaborate comes from the Latin word “collaborare,” which means “to work together.”
Corroborate comes from the Latin word “corroborare,” which means “to make strong” or “to confirm.”

How to Use Them

Collaborate

When you collaborate with someone, you work together to do something. For example, friends can work together on a school project.

Example Sentences for Collaborate

• I will collaborate with Jane on the science project.
• The teachers collaborate to make the school better.
• We should collaborate to finish this puzzle faster.
• Can we collaborate on this art piece?
• The two companies collaborate to create a new product.

Corroborate

When you corroborate something, you give evidence to support it. For example, a witness can confirm that a story is true.

Example Sentences for Corroborate

• The witness can corroborate the suspect’s story.
• I need you to corroborate my alibi.
• The scientist’s findings corroborate the theory.
• Can anyone corroborate what happened?
• The report corroborates the facts we have.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Think of the word parts:
Collaborate has “labor,” which means work. So, it means to work together.
Corroborate has “rob,” like a strong pillar. So, it means to make a story strong with proof.

Summary

Collaborate means to work together. Use it when talking about doing things together.
Corroborate means to support with evidence. Use it when talking about proving something is true.