collocation · formal
beyond reasonable doubt
UK/bɪˈjɒnd ˈriːzənəbəl daʊt/US/bɪˈjɑːnd ˈriːzənəbəl daʊt/be·YOND REA·son·able DOUBT
a legal standard meaning there is no reasonable doubt about the defendant's guilt
Examples
“In criminal cases, the prosecution must prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”
“The judge explained that the jury must be sure beyond reasonable doubt before convicting.”
“Proving something beyond reasonable doubt is a high legal threshold.”
Band 8 sentence
“The prosecution must establish the defendant's guilt beyond reasonable doubt before the jury can lawfully convict.”
Collocations
- prove something beyond reasonable doubt
- convict someone beyond reasonable doubt
Word family
Common mistakes
beyond doubt→beyond reasonable doubt
without a doubt→beyond reasonable doubt
Say it for a higher band
5beyond doubt→6beyond reasonable→7+beyond reasonable doubt
Synonyms
beyond doubt
Easily confused
on the balance of probabilities
“In civil cases, the judge decides based on the balance of probabilities.”
Related words
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