prima facie

¹pri·ma fa·cie

adverb \ˌprī-mə-ˈfā-shə, -shē, -sē also -shē-ˌē, -sē-ˌē\

Definition of PRIMA FACIE

: at first view : on the first appearance

Origin of PRIMA FACIE

Middle English, from Latin

First Known Use: 15th century

²prima facie

adjective

Definition of PRIMA FACIE

1

: true, valid, or sufficient at first impression : apparent <the theory … gives a prima facie solution — R. J. Butler>

2

: self-evident

3

: legally sufficient to establish a fact or a case unless disproved <prima facie evidence>

Examples of PRIMA FACIE

1. <a prima facie case of tax fraud>
2. <challenged the assertion that the dearth of women on the staff constituted a prima facie case of sexual discrimination>

First Known Use of PRIMA FACIE

1800

Related to PRIMA FACIE

Synonyms

assumed, evident, ostensible, ostensive, presumed, apparent, putative, reputed, seeming, supposed

Related Words

demonstrable, external, outward, superficial, visible; conceivable, plausible, possible, supposable; likely, probable; clear, distinct, manifest, obvious, plain; deceptive, delusive, delusory, illusive, illusory, imaginary; misleading, specious; fake, faked, feigned, phony (also phoney), pretended, pseudo, put-on; alleged, claimed, professed, purported, so-called

Near Antonyms

hidden, inapparent; implausible, impossible, improbable, inconceivable, unlikely; actual, authenticated, confirmed, corroborated, established, genuine, real, substantiated, sure, valid, validated, verified

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

Rhymes with PRIMA FACIE

Pergolesi, Sulawesi, Veronese