The burden of proof that must be met prior to arresting a person or obtaining a search warrant from a judge. Based on the totality of the circumstances, an officer must reasonably believe that a crime has been committed and that the person being placed under arrest was the one who committed the crime. This is a higher burden of proof than reasonable suspicion, which is required prior to stopping someone to initiate an investigation.
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
probable cause (noun) a reasonable ground for supposing that a charge is well-founded