prima facie

1 of 2

adverb

pri·​ma fa·​cie ˌprī-mə-ˈfā-shə 

-shē,

-sē,

 also  -shē-ˌē,

-sē-ˌē

: at first view : on the first appearance

prima facie

2 of 2

adjective

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

Synonyms

Adjective

• presumed
• apparent
• possible
• supposed
• probable
• seeming
• evident
• obvious

Examples of prima facie in a Sentence

Adjective

a prima facie case of tax fraud

There is strong prima facie evidence that she committed perjury.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

No simple annoyance, but this felt a lot like a prima facie violation of privacy. —J.t. Barbarese, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2025

This high level of volatility is a prima facie indication that professional forecasts will be difficult to interpret at best. —George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025

Adjective

No simple annoyance, but this felt a lot like a prima facie violation of privacy. —J.t. Barbarese, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2025

The disclosures already in the public arena make a prima facie case that the intelligence agency most responsible for meddling in U.S. politics was our own. —WSJ, 10 Jan. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English, borrowed from Latin prīmā faciē, from prīmā, ablative singular feminine of prīmus "first, foremost" + faciē, ablative singular of faciēs "appearance, sight" — more at prime entry 1, face entry 1

Adjective

derivative of prima facie entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb

circa 1500, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prima facie

• conjugacy
• lacy
• racy

Legal Definition

prima facie

1 of 2 adverb

pri·​ma fa·​cie ˈprī-mə-ˈfā-shə, -sē, -shē 

: at first view : on first appearance absent other information or evidence

guidelines which would prima facie accredit new entrance examinations as nondiscriminatory

—S. L. Lynch

compare ex facie

prima facie

2 of 2 adjective

: sufficient to establish a fact or case unless disproved

prima facie proof

a prima facie showing

Etymology

Adverb

Latin