preponderance of the evidence

pre·​pon·​der·​ance of the evidence
pri-ˈpän-də-rəns-
: the standard of proof in most civil cases in which the party bearing the burden of proof must present evidence which is more credible and convincing than that presented by the other party or which shows that the fact to be proven is more probable than not
also : the evidence meeting this standard
plaintiffs must show by a preponderance of the evidence that defendant's negligence proximately caused the injuries
compare clear and convincing, reasonable doubt

Dictionary Entries Near preponderance of the evidence

prepay

preponderance of the evidence

preponderate

Cite this Entry

“Preponderance of the evidence.” Merriam-Webster.com Legal Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/legal/preponderance%20of%20the%20evidence. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!