To verify is the action of determining, through the use of objective evidence generated by a repeatable process, knowledge regarding conformity of an item to a technical claim.
The precise meaning of “item” depends on the phase and level of the verification activity. During Development, for example, “item” can be a design purported to meet the requirements allocated to a CI. During production, “item” can be a S/N ostensibly meeting the requirements established by an Identifying Drawing.
This definition expands on the standard dictionary definition to explicate some of the pertinent Systems Engineering principles. In the standard quasi-legal definition, the only interest is to show whether something is true, accurate, or real. Here, we often need to be able to make some statement about margins, to support the potential for waivers. Also, the dictionary definition admits to attestation, which is of no interest in this application (hence, “…objective evidence…”).
Contrast with the concept of validation.