circumstantial evidence
/ˌsɜːrkəmˈstæŋkʃənəl ˈɛvɪdəns/ · sur.cum.stan.ti.als ev.i.dence
noun
- Evidence that indirectly links a person or thing to a crime or event, often based on circumstances or coincidences rather than direct proof. The police collected circumstantial evidence, including a suspicious alibi and a torn piece of fabric near the crime scene.
noun
- Information or facts that provide a basis for a conclusion or inference, but are not conclusive in themselves. The researcher relied on circumstantial evidence from historical records to reconstruct the timeline of events.
Synonyms
indirect evidencecircumstantial proofinferential evidencecircumstantial factscoincidental evidenceindirect proofinferential data
Antonyms
Did you know? The term 'circumstantial evidence' has been used in various high-profile trials, including the O.J. Simpson murder case, where it played a significant role in the prosecution's case against the defendant.