Proof of Concept
Etymology
A twentieth-century compound: "proof" (from Latin "probare," to test or demonstrate) applied to a "concept" (from Latin "concipere," to take in or conceive). Together they mean evidence that a conceived idea holds up in practice. The phrase spread through engineering and tech, where feasibility is often the first thing in doubt.
noun phrase · /proof uhv KON-sept/
A small demonstration built to show that an idea is technically feasible before committing to build it fully.
What it names
The cheap test that de-risks a bold idea, answering "can this even work?" before anyone bets the budget.
Example
The proof of concept showed the sensor could read through glass, so they green-lit the real product.
Related idea
A proof of concept proves feasibility, often in a lab or demo; an MVP is a real product put in front of real users to prove demand. Building an MVP before a proof of concept risks shipping something that can’t technically work; skipping straight past both risks building what nobody wants.