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• prima facie evidence
  prima facie evidence

  noun

  evidence sufficient to establish a fact or to raise a presumption of fact unless rebutted.
• prima-facie evidence
  prima-facie evidence

  noun

  law evidence that is sufficient to establish a fact or to raise a presumption of the truth of a fact unless controverted

prima facie evidence

American  

noun

Law.

1. evidence sufficient to establish a fact or to raise a presumption of fact unless rebutted.

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prima-facie evidence British  

noun

1. law evidence that is sufficient to establish a fact or to raise a presumption of the truth of a fact unless controverted

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Etymology

Origin of prima facie evidence

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prima facie evidence prima-facie evidence

“The ignition of the Saddleridge Fire by SCE’s power and transmission lines and equipment is prima facie evidence of SCE’s negligence,” states the complaint, which was filed by acting U.S.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2025

Lawyers acting for Labour previously asked the High Court to grant permission to use the document, which it said contained "prima facie evidence of wrongdoing".

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2023

Violation of this rule is considered prima facie evidence of reckless driving.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 21, 2023

Is the existence of journalistic error prima facie evidence of journalistic malice?

From Slate ● Nov. 23, 2021

The certificate of such acknowledgment under the hand and official seal of such consular officer or secretary of legation shall be prima facie evidence of the execution of the instrument.

From Copyright: Its History and Its Law by Bowker, Richard Rogers

Wall Street took this as prima-facie evidence that George Whitney knew nothing of the pending debacle.

From Time Magazine Archive

Her worshipful staring during his speeches had for years been regarded as prima-facie evidence of a Goody Two-Shoes phoniness.

From Time Magazine Archive

To restore electronic enforcement, Faircloth urged the state legislature to legalize such information by classifying it as prima-facie evidence.

From Time Magazine Archive

This, he said, was prima-facie evidence that the cards are stacked against the buyer and that rates are too high.

From Time Magazine Archive

You see by this that Judge Methuen recognized baldness as prima-facie evidence of intellectuality and spirituality.

From The Love Affairs of a Bibliomaniac by Field, Eugene