The term "preponderance of evidence" in civil cases means?

The term "preponderance of evidence" refers to the standard of proof used in civil cases, which means that one party's evidence is more convincing than that of the other party. Specifically, it means that the evidence presented by one side is more likely than not to be true, demonstrating that there is a greater than 50% likelihood in favor of that side's claims or assertions. This standard is less stringent than the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard used in criminal cases, where a higher level of certainty is required. In civil litigation, the burden is on the plaintiff to prove their case by a preponderance of the evidence, which emphasizes the balance of probabilities rather than absolute certainty.