A fortiori

An epithet for any conclusion or inference which is much stronger than another. 'If it be so, in a feoffment passing a new right, a fortiori, much more is it for the restitution of an ancient right.'

To draw the inference that because a certain thing is true, then another thing must be true as well.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.

Latin term meaning "with stronger reason." An inference thatbecause a certain conclusion or fact is true, then the same reasoning makes iteven more certain that a second conclusion is true. For example: Dan is accusedof aiding in a bank robbery in which all of the participants were over six feettall. One suspect has already been cleared by police because he is only fivefeet six inches. Since Dan is only five feet two inches, a fortiori he couldnot have participated in the robbery and will also be cleared.