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

Rambo said a preliminary crash report will be issued in 15 days and a final report with the probable cause of the crash within 18 months. — Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026

Evanoff, 19, was scheduled to appear in an uptown Charlotte courthouse Thursday, where Judge Keith Smith would have weighed the evidence against him and determined whether there was enough probable cause for the case to move forward. — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2026

Police should treat a match as a lead but never as probable cause. — Edward Longe, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026

The dismissal follows days of testimony in a series of rare public hearings Faruqui convened to determine whether the government's case against Floris and Benavides met the low bar of probable cause. — ABC News, 2 Nov. 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