benefit of the doubt

noun

1. a favorable opinion or judgment adopted despite uncertainty.

Word History and Origins

Origin of benefit of the doubt¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Labour MPs, for now, seem willing to at least give the prime minister and the chancellor the benefit of the doubt.

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"I think the report itself to me is a little more surprising because it seems to give the president and some of his allies a lot of benefit of the doubt, given what the evidence brought forth looked like," he said.

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For now, the analysts say they will give Nvidia the benefit of the doubt, noting it is on track to exit 2025 with a mid-70% margin, as it guided for earlier this year.

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But it’s just as crucial that elected officials who used their office to lie and bully in the president’s service don’t see their actions whitewashed—and aren’t given a benefit of the doubt that they certainly haven’t earned.

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Until March 14, the stock market had given the big Wall Street firms the benefit of the doubt.

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