clearly erroneous

adjective

clear·ly erroneous

Legal Definition of clearly erroneous

: being or containing a finding of fact that is not supported by substantial or competent evidence or by reasonable inferences findings of fact…must not be set aside unless clearly erroneous — Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 52(a) — compare abuse of discretion, de novo

Note: The requirement that findings be clearly erroneous to be set aside is a standard of review used especially by an appellate court when reviewing a trial judge's (as opposed to a jury's) findings of fact for error.