---
title: What is Grounding? · Aeonav
description: Tying a model's answer to specific sources so claims can be traced and checked.
canonical: https://www.aeonav.fivecoder.com/glossary/grounding
updated: "2026-09-15"
---

[AI search glossary](http://www.aeonav.fivecoder.com/glossary)

# Grounding

Tying a model's answer to specific sources so claims can be traced and checked.

A grounded answer is one backed by retrieved documents rather than the model's memory alone. Grounding is what makes citations possible and reduces, though does not eliminate, made-up details.

Grounding is where brands have leverage. A clear, trustworthy page on your topic gives the model something to ground an answer in.

## Go deeper

- [Can you trust AI citations?](http://www.aeonav.fivecoder.com/blog/can-you-trust-ai-citations)
- [How to earn AI citations](http://www.aeonav.fivecoder.com/blog/ai-citations)

## Related terms

[Retrieval-augmented generation](http://www.aeonav.fivecoder.com/glossary/retrieval-augmented-generation)[AI citation](http://www.aeonav.fivecoder.com/glossary/ai-citation)[Hallucination](http://www.aeonav.fivecoder.com/glossary/hallucination)

## See it in your own data

Aeonav is an open-source AI visibility platform. Self-host it for free and track how AI answer engines mention and cite your brand.

[Get started](http://www.aeonav.fivecoder.com/docs/getting-started)[Compare tools](http://www.aeonav.fivecoder.com/ai-visibility-tools)