prima facie

1 appearing to be true on the basis of evidence that may or may not be confirmed a prima facie case of tax fraud Synonyms assumed, evident, ostensible, ostensive, presumed, apparent, putative, reputed, seeming, supposedRelated Words demonstrable, external, outward, superficial, visible; conceivable, plausible, possible, supposable; likely, probable; clear, distinct, manifest, obvious, plain; deceptive, delusive, delusory, illusive, illusory, imaginary; misleading, specious; fake, faked, feigned, phony (also phoney), pretended, pseudo, put-on; alleged, claimed, professed, purported, so-calledNear Antonyms hidden, inapparent; implausible, impossible, improbable, inconceivable, unlikely; actual, authenticated, confirmed, corroborated, established, genuine, real, substantiated, sure, valid, validated, verified

2 not needing proof in order to be accepted challenged the assertion that the dearth of women on the staff constituted a prima facie case of sexual discrimination Synonyms axiomatic, self-evidentRelated Words self-explanatory; apparent, clear, evident, hands-down, manifest, obvious, open-and-shut, patent, plain, transparent, unmistakable; incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, undeniable, unquestionable; accepted, given, grantedNear Antonyms arguable, contestable, debatable, disputable, doubtable, dubious, moot, problematic (also problematical), questionable