What Does Giving Someone the "Benefit of the Doubt" Mean?

Download Article

Everything you need to know about this popular idiom

Co-authored by Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW and Mason Martinez, BA

Last Updated: October 3, 2024 Fact Checked

Download Article

• "Benefit of the Doubt" Meaning
|
• Usage
|
• When to Give It
|
• Why It's Important

|Show more |Show less

You may have heard the phrase "benefit of the doubt" or been told that you should give people the benefit of the doubt more often, but what exactly does this phrase mean? Giving someone the benefit of the doubt means to believe someone or trust they're a good person, even if you're not really sure what the truth is. Keep reading to learn more about what this phrase means and how it's used.

The Meaning of "Benefit of the Doubt"

The phrase "benefit of the doubt" means to believe something good about someone rather than something bad, even if you aren’t sure of the truth. By giving someone the benefit of the doubt, you're choosing to trust them instead of assuming the worst.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

What does benefit of the doubt mean?

Download Article

1. 
   Giving someone the benefit of the doubt means believing something good about them instead of something bad, even if you’re unsure. By giving them the benefit of the doubt, you're choosing to trust them instead of assuming the worst. For example, if your friend is late meeting you for lunch, you might give them the benefit of the doubt by assuming something important came up rather than assuming they just don't respect your time. Even though you're not 100% sure, you're choosing to see the good in them.
Advertisement

Section 2 of 4:

How to Use the Phrase "Benefit of the Doubt"

Download Article

1. 
   Use “benefit of the doubt” to signal trust in someone or something. If someone says or does something that seems out of character for them, you can choose to believe the reason for their behavior was innocent rather than malicious. It's a great phrase to use when you want to demonstrate that you trust someone (even if you aren't sure of the truth). Here are some examples of the phrase in action:

   • "Everyone says she broke my phone on purpose. She's always been a good friend to me, though, so I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt."
   • "Henry is consistent and always turns his assignments in on time, so I think we can give him the benefit of the doubt about the missed deadline. It was just a fluke.”
   • "That bakery messed up my order last time, but it could have been an honest mistake, so I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and try ordering from them again."
   • "The customer said the package was never delivered, even though the tracking number says it was. Still, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and provide a refund this time."

Section 3 of 4:

When to Give the Benefit of the Doubt

Download Article

1. 
   Give the benefit of the doubt when you’re unsure of the truth but trust the person. When things don’t go according to plan with someone you trust—plans get canceled, or a phone call is missed, for example—give them the benefit of the doubt instead of jumping to negative conclusions. This can help keep your relationships more positive and supportive.

   • However, if someone is continuously canceling plans, not returning your calls, showing up late, etc., it's okay to feel frustrated and upset. At that point, it's reasonable if you're not willing to give them the benefit of the doubt anymore.
Advertisement

Section 4 of 4:

Importance of Giving Benefit of the Doubt

Download Article

1. 
   1
   Giving the benefit of the doubt may build happier relationships. In a study by the Journal of Happiness Studies, researchers discovered that people who gave others the benefit of the doubt cultivated more positive and trusting relationships than individuals who blamed others for their actions (or lack thereof).

   • Similarly, giving the benefit of the doubt is a practice that can help improve your mental well-being by choosing to look for the good in the world instead of the bad or worst-case scenarios.
2. 
   2
   Trust may help you understand the actions and behaviors of others. By giving someone the benefit of the doubt, you’re giving them the chance to explain their version of events. Before jumping to conclusions, try to see the bigger picture. Ask yourself what may be going on in the person’s life that prevented them from following through on their commitment to you.
Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!