Reasonable Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Reasonable, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Reasonable?

(Adj) Reasonable is used to represent the near equality of the action or activities taking in to consideration the prevailing circumstances at the time of the event. Reasonableness is time and circumstances conscious. Hence reasonableness will change when situation change

History and Meaning of Reasonable

The term "reasonable" is commonly used in legal contexts to represent the fairness or rationality of a particular action. It is a highly contextual term and can change depending on circumstances. This concept of reasonableness can be traced back to the English common law system where it was first used in the context of tort law. Over time, reasonableness has come to be used in a variety of legal contexts, ranging from criminal law to administrative law.

Examples of Reasonable

Here are a few examples of how the term "reasonable" might be used in different legal contexts:

  • In a negligence case, a judge might ask whether a reasonable person would have acted in the same way as the defendant under similar circumstances.
  • In a criminal case, a jury might be asked to determine whether the defendant's actions were reasonable given their state of mind at the time.
  • In an administrative law case, a decision-maker might be asked whether their decision was reasonable given the evidence before them.

Legal Terms Similar to Reasonable

Here are a few legal terms that are similar in meaning to "reasonable":

  • Prudent: Careful and sensible in decision-making.
  • Justifiable: Able to be shown to be right or reasonable.
  • Rational: Based on or in accordance with reason or logic.
  • Necessary: Required to achieve a certain result.
  • Proportional: Corresponding in size or amount to something else.