-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
Examples of probable cause in a Sentence
The lawyer argued that there was a lack of probable cause for a search warrant.
The police had probable cause to arrest him.
Recent Examples on the Web
So, at the end of the day, there wasn't enough probable cause legally to arrest him.
—Tracy Smith, CBS News, 18 May 2024
The man was charged with gun possession, but his attorney argued in pretrial hearings that the officers lacked probable cause for the search and failed to turn on their body cameras until halfway through the stop.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for probable cause
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'probable cause.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1676, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of probable cause was
circa 1676
Articles Related to probable cause
Dictionary Entries Near probable cause
Cite this Entry
“Probable cause.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/probable%20cause. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.
Legal Definition
probable cause
see cause sense 2
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share