prima facie

[ prahy-muh fey-shee-ee, fey-shee, fey-shuh, pree- ]
/ ˈpraɪ mə ˈfeɪ ʃiˌi, ˈfeɪ ʃi, ˈfeɪ ʃə, ˈpri- /

adverb

at first appearance; at first view, before investigation.

adjective

plain or clear; self-evident; obvious.

Origin of prima facie

1425–75; late Middle English < Latin prīmā faciē

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH prima facie

ad hoc a posteriori a priori ex post facto prima facie

Example sentences from the Web for prima facie

British Dictionary definitions for prima facie

prima facie
/ (ˈpraɪmə ˈfeɪʃɪ) /

at first sight; as it seems at first

Word Origin for prima facie

C15: from Latin, from prīmus first + faciēs face