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

Wallace’s attorney didn’t immediately respond Sunday to a request for comment; her probable cause affidavit, which details the case, was sealed from the public, court records show. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026

The affidavit noted that the Orange County Sheriff’s Office had probable cause to charge Wood with transmission of harmful material to minors and unlawful use of a two-way communication device, FOX 4 reported. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Moore drove himself and his girlfriend to a nearby fire station and called the police, the probable cause affidavit said. — Jessie Dimartino, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

But the police generally need a warrant supported by probable cause once their conduct is classified as a search. — Henry F. Fradella, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 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