prima facie
7 synonyms for prima facie, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Accepted as true or sufficient on first inspection, unless later evidence proves otherwise. Used especially of evidence or of a case strong enough to go to trial.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Accepted as true or sufficient on first inspection, unless later evidence proves otherwise. Used especially of evidence or of a case strong enough to go to trial.
“The prosecution established a prima facie case of fraud.”
2. adverb
On the face of it; judging by what can be seen at first.
“Prima facie, the contract appears to have been breached.”
How to use prima facie
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Formal and mainly legal. Often italicised in legal writing but increasingly set in roman.
Etymology
Latin prima facie, literally "at first face", meaning at first appearance.
Full origin of prima facie →