probable cause

noun

, Law.

1. reasonable ground for a belief, as, in a criminal case, that the accused was guilty of the crime, or, in a civil case, that grounds for the action existed: used especially as a defense to an action for malicious prosecution.

probable cause

noun

1. law reasonable grounds for holding a belief, esp such as will justify bringing legal proceedings against a person or will constitute a defence to a charge of malicious prosecution

Word History and Origins

Origin of probable cause¹

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

According to a probable cause statement obtained by the Baltimore Sun, Johnson was initially issued a citation to appear in court after cops noticed unauthorized tags and registration on her car, and found she had been driving without a license.

From The Daily Beast

At the upper end, where we were seeing someone who we believe had probable cause to have shot someone else, we’re going in.

From Vox

It’s rare that schools move to show probable cause to terminate an employee, Voice of San Diego has found.

From Voice of San Diego

Two are still under investigation by the NTSB, meaning the probable cause of the accident has not yet been identified.

From ProPublica

The NTSB determined the probable cause of this accident was that the pilots did not see and avoid each other.

From ProPublica

He was not selling “loosies” that day, no cigarettes were found on his person, and thus there was no probable cause in play.

From The Daily Beast

The goal should be to determine probable cause for change in how we police ourselves everywhere.

From The Daily Beast

But “reasonable suspicion” is not the same thing as probable cause.

From The Daily Beast

But interest does not translate into probable cause without evidence.

From The Daily Beast

For a third time, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of searching a person without probable cause.

From The Daily Beast

Finding Miss Grieve in an unusually amiable mood, I inquired the probable cause of this phenomenon.

From Project Gutenberg

One or two of the men who knew Burns least looked as if they could tell what was the probable cause of such loss of control.

From Project Gutenberg

Aside from that, she could think of no probable cause she had given for offense.

From Project Gutenberg

This will give a better idea of the beautiful, and point out its probable cause better, than almost anything else.

From Project Gutenberg

In vain I attempted to reason on the probable cause of my being thus entombed.

From Project Gutenberg