Dictionary

benefit of the doubt en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence.
   • Plenty of past seasons’ events could look ill-conceived in the critical eye of Monday-morning quarterbacking, but previously, the show had earned the benefit of the doubt that missteps on the part of supposedly intelligent characters were a plausible lack of in-world foresight. 2019 May 19, Alex McLevy, “The final Game Of Thrones brings a pensive but simple meditation about stories (newbies)”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 22 May 2019:
   • The former Manchester United player had handled outside his area to thwart Erling Haaland and if there was considerable doubt over his continued involvement, he was given the benefit of it. 2025 May 17, David Hytner, “Crystal Palace stun Manchester City to win FA Cup amid drama and Henderson controversy”, in The Guardian:
2. (countable, uncountable) A trust that something will turn out or happen as hoped for or expected despite concerns.
   • “We consider this to be an act of modern piracy. This is no way to treat transatlantic partners. Even in times of global crisis, we shouldn’t resort to the tactics of the wild west,” said Andreas Geisel, a leading Berlin politician. Significantly, Merkel has refused to give Trump the benefit of the doubt. 2020 April 12, Simon Tisdall, “US's global reputation hits rock-bottom over Trump's coronavirus response”, in The Guardian:
3. (countable, uncountable) The principle employed by umpires in cases of uncertainty concerning a batsman possibly being out, in which the decision must be in the batsman's favour.

Forms

Relateds

presumption of innocence

Translations (29)

es beneficio de la duda (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · hu javára/kedvezően/jóindulattal/jóhiszeműen dönt/ítél (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · cmn 疑點利益 /疑点利益 (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · it apertura di credito (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · pl przywilej wątpliwości na korzyść oskarżonego (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · fr bénéfice du doute (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · tr şüpheden sanık yararlanır (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · hu a jobbik lehetőséget/eshetőséget tételezi fel (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · is telja saklausan uns sekt hefur verið sönnuð (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · hi संदेह का लाभ (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · hi संशय का लाभ (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · hi शक का फ़ायदा (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · tr hüsn-ü zan (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · nb la tvilen komme tiltalte til gode (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · fi jättää tuomitsematta todisteiden puuttuessa (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · ru креди́т дове́рия (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · is láta njóta vafans (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · hu véd (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · nn la tvilen kome tiltalte til gode (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · it beneficio del dubbio (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · eo benefico de dubo (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · th ประโยชน์แห่งความสงสัย (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · nl voordeel van de twijfel (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · he מחמת הספק (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · ar حُسْن الظَّنّ (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · pt benefício da dúvida (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · fi tuomita syytetyn eduksi epäselvässä tapauksessa (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · da lade tvivlen komme til gode (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence) · hu a legjobbat/kedvezőbbet tételezi fel (a favorable judgement given in the absence of full evidence)