Presumption Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

1

[count]

:

a belief that something is true even though it has not been proved

— often + that

• The presumption is that the thief had a key to the store.
• There was a widespread presumption that she would appoint him as her successor.
• the presumption that all students learn in the same way
• Thousands of people used this drug on the presumption that it was safe. [=they used it because they believed that it was safe]

2

law

:

an act of accepting that something is true until it is proved not true

— often + of

[noncount]

• The trial was unfair from the beginning because there was no presumption of innocence.

[singular]

• a defendant's right to a presumption of innocence

3

[noncount]

formal

:

willingness to do something without the right or permission to do it

• You don't know anything about my situation, and yet you have the presumption [=(more commonly) _gall, nerve_] to tell me what to do!