special pleading
Americannoun
-
Law. pleading that alleges special or new matter in avoidance of the allegations made by the opposite side.
-
pleading or arguing that ignores unfavorable features of a case.
noun
-
a pleading that alleges new facts that offset those put forward by the other side rather than directly admitting or denying those facts
-
a pleading that emphasizes the favourable aspects of a case while omitting the unfavourable
Etymology
Origin of special pleading
First recorded in 1675–85
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The selection suggests that indigenous art has evolved sufficiently since the 1970s to transcend special pleading.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026
At the time, Applegate, an actress with an aversion to special pleading, didn’t make excuses.
From New York Times • Nov. 1, 2022
But even the most cynical court-watcher must admit that there is zero chance five justices will accept WILL’s special pleading here.
From Slate • Oct. 19, 2022
Like that earlier piece, Bowles employs exaggeration and special pleading to make her case.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2022
Only by the most special pleading could I imagine the polynucleotide backbone bending enough to accommodate irregular base sequences.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
