Definition of probable cause
: a reasonable ground for supposing that a charge is well-founded
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
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 of probable cause from the Web
-
The mayor handed out copies of a March 27 ruling by Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury finding no probable cause to support the complaint filed by John Devlin, a member of the Atlantic City Democratic Committee.
-
Dobbins was arrested just after 8 a.m. Easter Sunday, shortly after the incident, according to a probable cause statement.
-
The second circumstance is to prevent a suspect from escaping, but only if the officer has probable cause to think the suspect poses a dangerous threat to others.
-
The judge, however, did not find probable cause to support it.
-
Zamarripa-Castaneda’s speech was slurred and his breath had a moderate odor of unknown alcohol, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by FOX31.
-
An inquest jury that heard testimony earlier this year about the dehydration death of Terrill Thomas at the jail in 2016 found probable cause in May that seven sheriff's employees violated criminal statutes regarding Thomas' detention.
-
According to the probable cause affidavit, employees at the 550 N. Congress Ave.
-
According to a probable cause statement, Cass County deputies were called out to a shooting on South Chandler Road, north of Missouri N, around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'probable cause.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of probable cause
circa 1676
PROBABLE CAUSE Defined for English Language Learners
probable cause
Definition of probable cause for English Language Learners
-
law : evidence that gives someone a reason to think that a crime has been or is being committed
Law Dictionary
Learn More about probable cause
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up probable cause? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
