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Definition of prima facie - 4 dictionary results

pri⋅ma fa⋅ci⋅e

[prahy-muh fey-shee-ee, fey-shee, fey-shuh, pree-]
–noun
1. at first appearance; at first view, before investigation.
2. plain or clear; self-evident; obvious.

Origin:
1425–75; late ME < L prīmā faciē
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pri·ma fa·cie   (prī'mə fā'shē -shə, -shē-ē)   
adv.  At first sight; before closer inspection: They had, prima facie, a legitimate complaint.
adj.  
  1. True, authentic, or adequate at first sight; ostensible: prima facie credibility.

  2. Evident without proof or reasoning; obvious: a prima facie violation of the treaty.


[Middle English, manifestly, from Latin prīmā faciē : prīmā, feminine ablative of prīmus, first + faciē, ablative of faciēs, shape, face.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Main Entry: pri·ma fa·cie
Pronunciation: 'prI-m&-'fA-sh&, -sE, -shE
Function: adverb
Etymology: Latin
: at first view : on first appearance absent other information or evidence prima facie accredit new entrance examinations as nondiscriminatory —S. L. Lynch> —compare EX FACIE

Main Entry: prima facie
Function: adjective
: sufficient to establish a fact or case unless disproved <prima facie proof> prima facie showing>
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