presumption

noun

pre·​sump·​tion pri-ˈzəm(p)-shən 

1

: presumptuous attitude or conduct : audacity

2

a

: an attitude or belief dictated by probability : assumption

b

: the ground, reason, or evidence lending probability to a belief

3

: a legal inference as to the existence or truth of a fact not certainly known that is drawn from the known or proved existence of some other fact

Synonyms

• audaciousness
• audacity
• brashness
• brass
• brassiness
• brazenness
• cheek
• cheekiness
• chutzpah
• chutzpa
• hutzpah
• hutzpa
• crust
• effrontery
• face
• gall
• nerve
• nerviness
• pertness
• presumptuousness
• sauce
• sauciness
• temerity

Examples of presumption in a Sentence

The trial was unfair from the beginning because there was no presumption of innocence.

a defendant's right to a presumption of innocence

Recent Examples on the Web

The presumption has been that the way to protect freedom of speech is through a deregulated marketplace, and speech on social media platforms is no exception. —Michael Gregory, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2025

On the other hand, Fielder incorporates the response of viewers who’ve assessed him with the same distance, presumption and limited information that mark his own relationship to pilots. —Alison Herman, Variety, 15 Apr. 2025

Blanket policies such as this one fail to promote public safety and undermine due process and the presumption of innocence by ignoring judges’ decisions and mitigating information provided by defense attorneys. —Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025

But the presumption of regularity is not an imperative of ignorance or a rule mandating that judges be ostriches. —Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English presumpcioun, from Anglo-French presumption, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin praesumption-, praesumptio presumptuous attitude, from Latin, assumption, from praesumere

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing presumption

• on the presumption that

Rhymes for presumption

• assumption
• consumption
• resumption
• subsumption
• gumption
• sumption

Kids Definition

presumption

noun

pre·​sump·​tion pri-ˈzəm(p)-shən 

1

: presumptuous attitude or behavior

2

a

: strong reason for believing something to be so in spite of lack of proof

b

: something believed but not proved

Legal Definition

presumption

noun

pre·​sump·​tion pri-ˈzəmp-shən 

: an inference as to the existence of a fact not certainly known that the law requires to be drawn from the known or proven existence of some other fact

— conclusive presumption

: a presumption that the law does not allow to be rebutted

called also irrebuttable presumption

compare rebuttable presumption in this entry

— mandatory presumption

: a presumption that a jury is required by law to make upon proof of a given fact compare permissive presumption in this entry

— permissive presumption

: an inference or presumption that a jury is allowed but not required to make from a given set of facts

called also permissive inference

compare mandatory presumption in this entry

— presumption of fact

: a presumption founded on a previous experience or on general knowledge of a connection between a known fact and one inferred from it

— presumption of innocence

: a rebuttable presumption in the favor of the defendant in a criminal action imposing on the prosecution the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt

— presumption of intent

: a permissive presumption that if a criminal defendant committed an act it was his or her intent to commit it

— presumption of law

: a presumption (as of the innocence of a criminal defendant) founded on a rule or policy of law regardless of fact

— presumption of survivorship

: the presumption in the absence of direct evidence that of two or more persons dying in a common disaster (as a fire) one was the last to die because of youth, strength, or other reasons rendering survivorship likely

— rebuttable presumption

: a presumption that may be rebutted by evidence to the contrary compare conclusive presumption in this entry