loophole

American  

[loop-hohl] / ˈlupˌhoʊl /

noun

1. a means of escape or evasion; a means or opportunity of evading a rule, law, etc..

   There are a number of loopholes in the tax laws whereby corporations can save money.

2. a small or narrow opening, as in a wall, for looking through, for admitting light and air, or, particularly in a fortification, for the discharge of missiles against an enemy outside.

3. an opening or aperture.

---

verb (used with object)

loopholed, loopholing

1. to furnish with loopholes.

loophole British  

/ ˈluːpˌhəʊl /

noun

1. an ambiguity, omission, etc, as in a law, by which one can avoid a penalty or responsibility

2. a small gap or hole in a wall, esp one in a fortified wall

---

verb

1. (tr) to provide with loopholes

Usage

What is a loophole? A loophole is an absence or something vague in a rule or law that allows a person to avoid punishment, as in I was able to keep an alligator in my apartment thanks to a loophole in the housing rules that said only “no dogs allowed.” Loopholes often result from poor wording or vague language in a rule or law. Generally, we can expect that anything that is not specifically forbidden or illegal must be allowed. However, this expectation sometimes allows people to get around the law by not violating the exact wording of that law. For example, a law may say that no one is allowed to walk on the sidewalk after dark. People take advantage of the loophole in this law by skipping, running, or jogging on the sidewalk when it is dark. Technically, they haven’t done anything forbidden by the law so they could not be punished for it. People who write laws and contracts try to avoid potential loopholes by using very specific language. Parents often have to do the same thing to avoid their children getting around their rules. Example: The companies used a loophole in the tax code to avoid paying taxes by registering themselves as charities.

Etymology

Origin of loophole

First recorded in 1585–95; loop ² + hole

Explanation

A loophole is an accidental technicality or unclear section of a written document that allows someone to avoid following a rule or fulfilling an obligation. If you've discovered a way to get out of paying taxes on money you made last year, you've found a loophole. There can also be loopholes in politics, where politicians get away with something through a technicality. And if a criminal goes free despite being found guilty of a crime, it might be because of some unforeseen loophole in the law. The original loopholes were narrow slits in a fortress or wall through which defenders could safely shoot arrows — it was seen as an unfair advantage by some, which resulted in the modern meaning of loophole.

Example Sentences

“This wasn’t a mistake or a loophole; it was deliberate fraud. This kind of abuse undermines trust, drains critical resources, and threatens care for those who truly depend on it.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

The state’s dealer lobby not only dropped its opposition to a sales loophole for Rivian and rival EV-maker Lucid, but also encouraged lawmakers to approve one.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

When I graduated from UC–Berkeley with my “useless” comparative literature degree, into one of the bleakest job markets in recent American memory, I thought to myself, There must be a loophole somewhere.

From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026

Instead, he was appointed to the assembly by Khamenei through a legal loophole and without being elected.

From Salon • Mar. 6, 2026

Nazario had found a loophole, though it was closed right after that case.

From "Bodega Dreams" by Ernesto Quinonez