circumstantial evidence

noun

1. proof of facts offered as evidence from which other facts are to be inferred ( direct evidence ).

circumstantial evidence

noun

1. See direct evidence
   indirect evidence that tends to establish a conclusion by inference Compare direct evidence

Word History and Origins

Origin of circumstantial evidence¹

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

The circumstantial evidence for this origin story, known as inflation, is overwhelming.

From Popular-Science

Some see the fact that covid-19 first appeared in the same city in which the lab is located as circumstantial evidence that a laboratory accident could be to blame.

From MIT Technology Review

Her trial was based largely on circumstantial evidence and the argument that four deaths within the same family could not have happened by coincidence.

From Washington Post

The findings buttress other circumstantial evidence accrued over the last decade pointing to that date, said Richard Palin, a petrologist at the University of Oxford.

From Quanta Magazine

The problem is that there is an enormous amount of both direct and circumstantial evidence to the contrary.

From The Daily Beast

The case, he said, is “built on loose circumstantial evidence.”

From The Daily Beast

There are rumors, theories, clues, and an intriguing amount of circumstantial evidence that she landed on a desert island.

From The Daily Beast

In Italy, however, circumstantial evidence often counts for as much as forensic evidence in the court of law.

From The Daily Beast

“Juries usually prefer circumstantial evidence to direct evidence,” the judge said.

From The Daily Beast

While a jury might refuse to convict on circumstantial evidence a detective is not so deterred.

From Project Gutenberg

Circumstantial evidence backed by a confession that checks on all angles is about all any jury needs to be convinced of guilt.

From Project Gutenberg

If ever there was circumstantial evidence against a man, here it was against Rand-Brown.

From Project Gutenberg

It looked right—there was every form of circumstantial evidence against me.

From Project Gutenberg

But the same thing might be said of all judicial inquiries which proceed on circumstantial evidence.

From Project Gutenberg