reasonable cause
noun phraseUK /ˈriː.zən.ə.bəl kɔːz/
US /ˈriː.zən.ə.bəl kɔːz/
A good and fair reason for doing something.
The teacher had reasonable cause to think the boy was late because the bus broke down.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. In law, a fair and sensible reason that lets police or officials do something, like search a place.
The judge said the police had reasonable cause to search the car.
3. A reason that a careful person would accept as true and fair.
She had reasonable cause to believe the package was hers.
4. A fair basis for believing something is true, even without complete proof.
There was reasonable cause to suspect the door had been left open.