Legal Definitions - Manifest

Definition:

1. Something that is clear, obvious, and unquestionable. For example, if something is manifestly erroneous, it is clearly wrong. The "manifest error rule" requires appellate courts to give great deference to lower trial courts' factual inferences when reviewing cases, so long as the trial court's account of the facts is reasonable and exhibits no manifest error.
2. A written list or invoice used to record the amount, origin, carrier, and destination of goods or passengers on a ship, airplane, or other vehicle.
3. The physical action of recording something in a manifest document.

Examples:

• It was manifestly clear that the defendant was guilty of the crime.
• The customs officer checked the manifest to ensure that all the goods on the ship were accounted for.
• The captain of the airplane had to manifest all the passengers before takeoff.

The first example illustrates the first definition of manifest, which means something that is clear and obvious. The second and third examples illustrate the second and third definitions of manifest, which refer to a written list or invoice used to record goods or passengers on a vehicle.