probable cause

noun

: a reasonable ground for supposing that a charge is well-founded

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

In an interview with officers, Lauritzen said the parking garage was full, and the couple was blocking a parking spot, according to the probable cause statement. — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026

Caruso had regular and unsupervised access to the child, a probable cause affidavit released by the governor’s office said. — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2026

If prosecutors were to present the case to a grand jury, a prosecutor would still have to believe there was probable cause a crime was committed before arguing for an indictment. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

In January 2025, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Rhonda Lanford found probable cause to believe Ridglan had committed crimes under Wisconsin's laws against animal cruelty, and appointed a special prosecutor to investigate alleged violations. — Adam Yamaguchi, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for probable cause

• magnetopause
• ahs
• baas
• clause
• claws
• coz
• daws
• draws
• flaws
• gauze
• gnaws
• haws

Legal Definition

probable cause

see also:

cause sense 2