# Tenn. R. Evid. 401: Rule 401. Definition of "relevant evidence."

> Tennessee · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R401

## Section

- **Citation:** Tenn. R. Evid. 401
- **Heading:** Rule 401. Definition of "relevant evidence."
- **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee
- **Kind:** Court rules
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Tennessee Court Rules / Tennessee Rules of Evidence / Tenn. R. Evid. 401

## Text

Article IV. Relevance
Rules of Evidence
"Relevant evidence" means evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.
Advisory Commission Comments.
This proposal does not change Tennessee common law. The theoretical test for admissibility is a lenient one, as it should be, and practical difficulties can be resolved under Rule 403 or the exclusionary rules of legal relevancy that follow.
The materiality concept is found in the words, "any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action."To be relevant, evidence must tend to prove a material issue.

## Nearby sections

- [Tenn. R. Evid. 101 Rule 101. Scope](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R101.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 102 Rule 102. Purpose and Construction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R102.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 103 Rule 103. Rulings on Evidence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R103.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 104 Rule 104. Preliminary questions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R104.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 105 Rule 105. Limited admissibility](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R105.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 106 Rule 106. Writings or recorded statements — Completeness](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R106.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 201 Rule 201. Judicial Notice of Adjudicative Facts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R201.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 202 Rule 202. Judicial notice of law](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R202.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 301 Rule 301. Reserved](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R301.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 401 Rule 401. Definition of "relevant evidence."](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R401.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 402 Rule 402. Relevant evidence generally admissible; irrelevant evidence inadmissible](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R402.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 403 Rule 403. Exclusion of relevant evidence on grounds of prejudice, confusion, or waste of time](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R403.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 404 Rule 404. Character Evidence Not Admissible to Prove Conduct; Exceptions; Other Crimes](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R404.md)
- [Tenn. R. Evid. 405 Rule 405. Methods of Proving Character](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R405.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_TN_TRE_R401. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.