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

Running errands and a real estate con What follows comes from the referee’s report and the probable cause affidavits after Morin and Corcoran’s arrests. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026

Glazer found probable cause for the grand theft charge, set bond at $2,500, and appointed the Public Defender's Office to represent him. — CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026

The affidavit noted that the Orange County Sheriff’s Office had probable cause to charge Wood with transmission of harmful material to minors and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, FOX 4 reported. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Moore drove himself and his girlfriend to a nearby fire station and called the police, the probable cause affidavit said. — Jessie Dimartino, ABC News, 2 Oct. 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