Examples of burden of proof in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson said Tuesday that Missouri’s self-defense law imposes a burden of proof that is too high for her office to secure a murder conviction against one of the shooters in the 2024 Chiefs Super Bowl rally that left one dead and dozens of others wounded.
—
Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
As a retired judge, I was trained to weigh evidence carefully and to match the burden of proof to the stakes involved.
—Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
There’s a lower level of proof for a preliminary hearing — not the same burden of proof that’s needed during a trial, which requires that the jury believe the defendant committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
—Alex Brizee
march 3, Idaho Statesman, 4 Mar. 2026
Some adoptees hope to use the commission’s findings to file damages suits against the South Korean government or their adoption agencies, which would otherwise be difficult because South Korean law places the burden of proof entirely on plaintiffs in civil cases.
—ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for burden of proof
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
As a retired judge, I was trained to weigh evidence carefully and to match the burden of proof to the stakes involved.
—Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
There’s a lower level of proof for a preliminary hearing — not the same burden of proof that’s needed during a trial, which requires that the jury believe the defendant committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
—Alex Brizee
march 3, Idaho Statesman, 4 Mar. 2026
Some adoptees hope to use the commission’s findings to file damages suits against the South Korean government or their adoption agencies, which would otherwise be difficult because South Korean law places the burden of proof entirely on plaintiffs in civil cases.
—ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for burden of proof
Cite this Entry
“Burden of proof.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burden%20of%20proof. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
burden of proof
: the responsibility of producing sufficient evidence in support of a fact or issue and favorably persuading the trier of fact (as a judge or jury) regarding that fact or issue
the burden of proof is sometimes upon the defendant to show his incompetency—W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.
compare standard of proof
W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.Note: The legal concept of the burden of proof encompasses both the burdens of production and persuasion. Burden of proof is often used to refer to one or the other. Burden of proof and burden of persuasion are also sometimes used to refer to the standard of proof.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
