presumption
noun
pre·sump·tion
pri-ˈzəm(p)-shən 
1
: presumptuous attitude or conduct : audacity
2
a
: an attitude or belief dictated by probability : assumption
b
: the ground, reason, or evidence lending probability to a belief
3
: a legal inference as to the existence or truth of a fact not certainly known that is drawn from the known or proved existence of some other fact
Examples of presumption in a Sentence
The trial was unfair from the beginning because there was no presumption of innocence.
a defendant's right to a presumption of innocence
Recent Examples on the Web
All these tropes — gaydar and girls without it — make for easier narratives, but the presumption that the codes of the heart can be deciphered on the body is one that, outside the world of absurdist comedy — and probably sometimes within it as well — can wound and damage.
—
Kelly Foster Lundquist, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
Great lengths [are] being made to make sure his presumption of innocence is maintained for the general public.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
But those presumptions are lazy attempts to understand how a prominent figure in the Bay Area community takes responsibility for leading his company.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
But immediately in that statutory language, there's also a rebuttable presumption that if domestic violence is found by the court … that negates the presumption that joint custody is going to be in the best interest (of the child).
—Ashley Luthern, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for presumption
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Kelly Foster Lundquist, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
Great lengths [are] being made to make sure his presumption of innocence is maintained for the general public.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
But those presumptions are lazy attempts to understand how a prominent figure in the Bay Area community takes responsibility for leading his company.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
But immediately in that statutory language, there's also a rebuttable presumption that if domestic violence is found by the court … that negates the presumption that joint custody is going to be in the best interest (of the child).
—Ashley Luthern, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for presumption
Cite this Entry
“Presumption.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presumption. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
presumption
noun
pre·sump·tion
pri-ˈzəm(p)-shən
1
: presumptuous attitude or behavior
2
a
: strong reason for believing something to be so in spite of lack of proof
b
: something believed but not proved
Legal Definition
presumption
noun
pre·sump·tion
pri-ˈzəmp-shən
: an inference as to the existence of a fact not certainly known that the law requires to be drawn from the known or proven existence of some other fact
—
conclusive presumption
: a presumption that the law does not allow to be rebutted
called also irrebuttable presumption
compare rebuttable presumption in this entry
—
mandatory presumption
: a presumption that a jury is required by law to make upon proof of a given fact compare permissive presumption in this entry
—
permissive presumption
: an inference or presumption that a jury is allowed but not required to make from a given set of facts
called also permissive inference
compare mandatory presumption in this entry
—
presumption of fact
: a presumption founded on a previous experience or on general knowledge of a connection between a known fact and one inferred from it
—
presumption of innocence
: a rebuttable presumption in the favor of the defendant in a criminal action imposing on the prosecution the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
—
presumption of intent
: a permissive presumption that if a criminal defendant committed an act it was his or her intent to commit it
—
presumption of law
: a presumption (as of the innocence of a criminal defendant) founded on a rule or policy of law regardless of fact
—
presumption of survivorship
: the presumption in the absence of direct evidence that of two or more persons dying in a common disaster (as a fire) one was the last to die because of youth, strength, or other reasons rendering survivorship likely
—
rebuttable presumption
: a presumption that may be rebutted by evidence to the contrary compare conclusive presumption in this entry
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