Loophole: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Loophole noun. A gap or ambiguity in a rule that lets people avoid what it was meant to do.
How to say it
LOOP-hohl/ˈluːphəʊl/
2 syllables, stressed on the first (LOOP).
Loophole in a sentence
Clever accountants found a loophole that let the firm pay almost no tax.
The new law closed the loophole, and a fresh one opened within a month.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- escape clause
- technicality
- way out
Where loophole comes from
First a narrow slit in a castle wall, for shooting or looking through.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The new law closed the _____, and a fresh one opened within a month.
- loophole
- affidavit
- purview
Show the answer
loophole: The new law closed the loophole, and a fresh one opened within a month.