Meaning
To accept a person's statement, good faith or innocence as true where the evidence leaves real uncertainty, resolving the doubt in their favour. Born as a courtroom idea - when the evidence is evenly balanced, acquit - it now covers everyday acts of provisional trust, from a friend's alibi to a referee's call. Usually follows give, get, have or grant. Dictionaries disagree on first use - the dated references cluster at the mid-1800s - and the popular 1798 Irish-trials story circulates without any cited trial record, so it is presented as tradition, not fact. Regional use: General English worldwide.
Origin
The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms traces the expression to the law: a person must be presumed innocent unless definitely proved guilty, so when in doubt the verdict must be not guilty; figuratively it was used for all kinds of situation from the nineteenth century, and Farlex's dating bracket is [Mid-1800s]. A popular origin story says the phrase was first used in the Irish treason trials of 1798, after the Irish Rebellion; the History of English site concedes only that 'many people believe' the phrase may have first appeared there, describing military court-martials - and no one cites a trial record, so 1798 remains unverified tradition rather than fact. The reference works that show evidence point to the mid-nineteenth century.
Research Sources
References used to check this entry’s meaning, history, or documented forms.
Variants
- give someone the benefit of the doubt
- grant the benefit of the doubt
- have the benefit of the doubt
Usage Examples
- He was late again, but his car really did break down last month, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
- The referee gave the defender the benefit of the doubt and waved away the penalty appeal.
- Until the audit proves otherwise, we extend the charity the benefit of the doubt about its fundraising claims.