loophole

Definitions

1. A slit in a castle wall; today, any similar window for shooting a ranged weapon or letting in light.
   historical
2. Crack, loophole, opening.
3. A method of escape, especially an ambiguity or exception in a rule or law that can be exploited in order to avoid its effect.
   figuratively

Equivalents

27 more languages

العربيةالمُنفّذخوخةمخرجمنور+ 1 more

Българскиамбразура

Bosanskilagunaluka

Catalàespitllera

Češtinamezera

Cymraegdihangfa

Ελληνικάπαράθυρο

Suomiampuma-aukkoampumarakoporsaanreikä

Galegoseteiratroneira

עבריתפרצה

Hrvatskikačamaklagunaluka

Magyarkiskapu

Italianocavilloferitoiaparalogismopretestoscappatoiasofismasottigliezza+ 4 more

日本語抜け道銃眼

ქართულიამბრაზურა

한국어구멍

Kurdîmaaş

Nederlandsachterdeurmaasschietgat

Polskifurtkakruczekluka

Portuguêsbrechaseteira

Русскийамбразурабойницалазейкаувёртка+ 1 more

Српскиlagunaluka

Svenskakryphålskottgluggsmyghål

ไทยช่องโหว่

Türkçekaçamakmazgal

Українськалазівка

Tiếng Việtkẽ hởsơ hở

Examples

“[…] and having a fair loophole, as it were, from a broken hole in the tree, he took a sure aim, without being seen, waiting till they were within about thirty yards of the tree, so that he could not miss⟳.”

“There was a loophole in this wall, to let⟳ the light⟳ in, just at the height of a person's head, who was sitting near the chimney.”

“The sun had shifted round, and the myriad windows of the Ministry of Truth, with the light⟳ no longer shining on them, looked grim as the loopholes of a fortress.”

“Coupling the poor girl's intelligence with my previous knowledge, and the result⟳ of our good friend's inquiries on the spot, I left him no loophole of escape⟳, and laid bare the whole villany which by these lights became plain as day.”

“You have⟳ a contract that says you will work⟳ until Island Towers is finalized, which I interpret⟳ as completion of construction, or I can stop⟳ you working elsewhere. And there's no loopholes, because you drafted it and you're the best.”

“They would rather ask⟳ more from the vast majority of Americans and put⟳ our recovery at risk⟳ than close⟳ even a single tax loophole that benefits the wealthy.”

CEFR level