prima facie evidence

noun

, Law.

1. evidence sufficient to establish a fact or to raise a presumption of fact unless rebutted.

prima-facie evidence

noun

1. law evidence that is sufficient to establish a fact or to raise a presumption of the truth of a fact unless controverted

Word History and Origins

Origin of prima facie evidence¹

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

Lawyers acting for Labour previously asked the High Court to grant permission to use the document, which it said contained "prima facie evidence of wrongdoing".

From BBC

Violation of this rule is considered prima facie evidence of reckless driving.

From Seattle Times

“DeSantis has publicly and repeatedly singled Disney out, and I think there is what the lawyers would call prima facie evidence — evidence on the surface — that appears to support the claim that the company is being punished because of its political views,” Barrett said.

From Los Angeles Times

But the defamation lawsuit against him was slow moving; a judge decided it could go forward in May, nearly 18 months after it was filed, ruling that there was prima facie evidence that Oltmann had “spread political disinformation at Coomer’s expense.”

From Washington Post

“The general rule is that any private, voluntary affirmative-action program that reserves spots or grants hiring preference to individuals on the basis of race is prima facie evidence of unlawful discrimination unless the program was implemented to redress a ‘manifest imbalance in a traditionally segregated workforce,’” Mr. Kirsanow, who served previously on the National Labor Relations Board, wrote in an email.

From Washington Times