fruit of the poisonous tree

noun

Evidence that has been obtained as the result of an illegal act on the part of law enforcement personnel (such as an unlawful warrantless search, or continued questioning of a witness who has invoked the right of counsel), and which is therefore excluded from being admitted as evidence in a trial.

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Meanings

nounfruit of the poisonous tree (countable and uncountable, plural fruits of the poisonous tree)

plural fruits of the poisonous tree

  1. UScountableidiomaticuncountablelawEvidence that has been obtained as the result of an illegal act on the part of law enforcement personnel (such as an unlawful warrantless search, or continued questioning of a witness who has invoked the right of counsel), and which is therefore excluded from being admitted as evidence in a trial.
Cite this entry
APA

fruit of the poisonous tree. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fruit%20of%20the%20poisonous%20tree

MLA

“fruit of the poisonous tree.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fruit%20of%20the%20poisonous%20tree. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fruit of the poisonous tree,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fruit%20of%20the%20poisonous%20tree.

Source: fruit of the poisonous tree on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.