Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

probable cause

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.78 in modern English

Syllables
prob-a-ble -cause
IPA
21
Scrabble Score
13
Letters
4
Syllables
10
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Reasonable grounds for making an arrest or conducting a personal or property search.

American usage; Uncountable

noun

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see probable, cause.

Countable

Example Sentences

Etymology

Elliptical for “probable cause to suspect a crime has been committed”, where probable carries the sense “worthy of acceptance or belief”. Attested in legal contexts since the 17th century.

Usage

Inflected Forms

probable causes (plural)

Phrases

burden of proof clear and convincing evidence preponderance of the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt

Frequently Paired Words

burden of proof clear and convincing evidence preponderance of the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt

Synonyms

pc

Questions

What does probable cause mean?
Reasonable grounds for making an arrest or conducting a personal or property search.
Where does probable cause come from?
Elliptical for “probable cause to suspect a crime has been committed”, where probable carries the sense “worthy of acceptance or belief”. Attested in legal contexts since the 17th century.

How to pronounce probable cause

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “probable cause”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “probable cause”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “probable cause” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.