legal loophole
Law's unintended exit
A legal loophole is an ambiguity or gap in a law that allows someone to circumvent its intent without technically breaking it.
Tax codes are notorious for loopholes that let wealthy individuals or corporations reduce their obligations: Her accountant found a loophole that saved her millions.
The term carries a whiff of cleverness exploiting poor draftsmanship—technically legal but against the spirit of the rule.
- technicalityPrecise procedural point
- exploitNotable act or abuse
- workaroundMakeshift bypass of difficulty
- dodgeAvoid by quick movement
- bend the rulesInterpret guidelines loosely
escape · clause · exemption · gray area · fine print · fine tooth comb · wiggle room · tax shelter · tax avoidance · shell company · offshore · evasion · circumvent · backdoor · scheme · paper trail · lacuna · gap
- legal themes in fictioncourtroom drama, jury duty, wrongful accusation, verdict, acquittal
- courtroom dramaobjection, surprise witness, hostile witness, mistrial, confession
- exemptionsexemption, tax exemption, medical exemption, religious exemption, tax exempt
- Legal Thrillerscourtroom drama, John Grisham, The Firm, The Pelican Brief, Presumed Innocent
legal loopholespirit of the law
A statute's underlying purpose
legal mandate · true intent · statutory right · legislative intent
legal, loophole, legally, legality, illegal, illegally, illegality, legalize, legalization