probable cause
nounDefinition of probable cause
: 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
The Kentucky Registry of Election Finance has found probable cause that the campaign of Louisville Metro Councilman Scott Reed violated several campaign finance laws in his 2016 race. — Joe Sonka, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville Metro Council member fined for 2016 campaign finance violations," 4 Sep. 2019 But prosecutors argued the marijuana odor provided probable cause to search both the vehicle Pacheco, the opinion said. — Jessica Anderson, baltimoresun.com, "Marijuana funk no longer probable cause to search people; Maryland appeals court cites Bob Dylan in ruling," 15 Aug. 2019 The commission found no probable cause to officer Shane Rivera’s February complaint accusing his fellow officers and the department of subjecting him to numerous anti-Mexican stereotypes and discrimination. — Cory Shaffer, cleveland.com, "Ohio Civil Rights Commission dismisses Euclid officer’s racial discrimination complaint after finding no probable cause," 13 Aug. 2019 Should a judge find probable cause, the prosecutor continues. — David Owens, courant.com, "Defendant in Windsor Locks murder case opts for preliminary hearing," 12 Aug. 2019 But because the odor of burning marijuana and hemp, and the THC both contain, is the same, both officers and drug dogs face new challenges to establish probable cause during searches. — Mark D. Wilson, chicagotribune.com, "Law and odor: Police hazy on how to use drug-sniffing dogs under Texas hemp law," 23 July 2019 Judge Bradley Burback determined that prosecutors demonstrated sufficient probable cause to send the case against Aguilera-Mederos to district court for trial. — Sam Tabachnik, The Denver Post, "Investigators detail harrowing I-70 crash that killed 4 as judge advances case toward trial," 11 July 2019 What happened that morning Ryan Clark, a homicide detective for IMPD, described the morning of Moffitt-Santiago's death in a probable cause affidavit filed in Marion Superior Court. — Ryan Martin, Indianapolis Star, "Pregnant mother killed by man after weeks of harassment and abuse, police say," 21 Aug. 2019 The International Agency for Research on Cancer, an arm of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as a probable cause of human cancer in 2015. — Bob Egelko, SFChronicle.com, "Alameda County judge reduces $2 billion jury award in Monsanto case to $86.7 million," 25 July 2019These 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.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more