burden of proof
noun
Chiefly Law.
the obligation to offer evidence that the court or jury could reasonably believe, in support of a contention, failing which the case will be lost.
the obligation to establish a contention as fact by evoking evidence of its probable truth.
Origin of burden of proof
First recorded in 1585–95
Words nearby burden of proof
burbot,
burchfield,
burckhardt,
burd,
burden,
burden of proof,
burdened,
burdensome,
burdizzo,
burdock,
bureau
British Dictionary definitions for burden of proof
burden of proof
noun
law
the obligation, in criminal cases resting initially on the prosecution, to provide evidence that will convince the court or jury of the truth of one's contention
Idioms and Phrases with burden of proof
burden of proof
Obligation of proving a disputed charge or allegation. For example, Are you sure you mailed the tax return on time? The burden of proof's on you. A legal term dating from the late 1500s, it has also been used more loosely in recent times.