loophole

CEFRB2

/ˈluːphəʊl/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A small gap in a rule that allows someone to avoid its purpose.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A method of escape, especially an ambiguity or exception in a rule or law that can be exploited in order to avoid its effect.

Examples

  • A loophole in the law allowed him to escape prosecution.

  • Tom used a legal loophole.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
4

Also pronounced

  • /ˈluphoʊl/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. To prepare a building for defense by preparing slits or holes through which to fire on attackers

  2. A slit in a castle wall; today, any similar window for shooting a ranged weapon or letting in light.

verb

Extra meaning

  1. To exploit (a law, etc.) by means of loopholes.

More examples

In context

  • 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.

  • […] 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.

  • The lower windows were barricaded, and the whole building loopholed for musketry fire.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The clever accountant discovered a legal blank that saved the company many thousands of dollars.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English loupe (“opening in a wall”) + hole, from a Germanic source. By surface analysis, loop + hole. Compare Medieval Latin loupa, lobia and Middle Dutch lupen (“to watch”).