Evidence-based

adj.thoughtful, capableprofessional

What it means

Grounded in relevant, systematically examined research or data.

Reach for it when describing a decision whose evidence and method can be inspected

The council adopted an evidence-based approach to road safety.

playful
backed by the numbers
when informal explanation of quantitative support fits
not when Numbers alone can mislead and the phrase excludes qualitative evidence.
everyday
proven
when robust repeated results justify confidence
not when Proven overstates probabilistic evidence and can suggest certainty.
professional
best-evidence
when the strongest available evidence is deliberately prioritized
not when Best available does not mean good, complete, or universally applicable.
professional
data-driven
when measured data strongly directs action
not when Data-driven can ignore study quality, values, and unmeasured harms.
professional
research-informed
when research guides judgment alongside context and experience
not when Research-informed is weaker and permits decisions that depart from the evidence.
formal
empirical
when observation or experiment rather than theory grounds the claim
not when Empirical evidence can be weak, irrelevant, or poorly interpreted.
formal
scientifically supported
when a body of valid research supports the conclusion
not when One preliminary study cannot justify this stronger wording.

evidence-based practice
Evidence-based practice combines research with expertise and patient values.
evidence-based policy
The evidence-based policy includes a plan to test its actual effects.
evidence-based approach
An evidence-based approach states what evidence could change the decision.

Evidence-based does not mean value-free or certain; source quality, relevance, and local context still matter.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.