Loophole
- Loophole
A loophole is a weakness or exception that allows a system, such as a law or security, to be circumvented or otherwise avoided. Loopholes are searched for and used strategically in a variety of circumstances, including taxes, elections, politics, the criminal justice system, or in breaches of security.
A loophole in a law often contravenes the "intent" of the law without technically breaking it. For example, in some places, one may avoid paying taxes to the jurisdiction by forming a second residence in another location, or a commercial property can be built in a residential zone if it is made also for residential use.
In a security system, the one who breaches the system (such as an inmate escaping from prison or a terrorist) exploits the loophole during breach. Such weaknesses are often studied in advance by the violator, who spends time observing and learning the routine of the system and sometimes conducts surreptitious tests until such a loophole can be found.
An example of a legal loophole:
*In 2005, Wal-Mart planned a store in Calvert County, Maryland. While a law in the county restricted the size of a retail store to 75,000 square feet, Wal-Mart considered a plan that would dodge this restriction by building two separate smaller stores. Though Wal-Mart later withdrew this controversial plan [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/16/AR2005051601271.html Wal-Mart Drops Plan for Side-by-Side Calvert Stores ] ] , the plan highlighted a legal loophole.
ee also
*Legal technicality
*Piggybackingx
*Gerrymandering
References
Wikimedia Foundation.
2010.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
loophole — I noun alternative, aperture, contrivance, device, escape clause, escape hatch, escape valve, evasion, exception, excuse, expedient, foramen, means of escape, mechanism for evasion, opening, outlet, saving clause, uncommunicativeness, vehicle for … Law dictionary
Loophole — Loop hole , n. 1. (Mil.) A small opening, as in the walls of fortification, or in the bulkhead of a ship, through which small arms or other weapons may be discharged at an enemy. [1913 Webster] 2. A hole or aperture that gives a passage, or the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
loophole — (n.) also loop hole, mid 15c., from M.E. loupe opening in a wall for shooting through or admitting light (c.1300), perhaps related to M.Du. lupen to watch, peer; + HOLE (Cf. hole) (n.). Figurative sense of outlet, means of escape is from 1660s … Etymology dictionary
loophole — [n] escape alternative, escape clause, means of escape, outlet, technicality, way out; concept 102 … New thesaurus
loophole — ► NOUN 1) an ambiguity or inadequacy in the law or a set of rules. 2) an arrow slit in a wall. ORIGIN from obsolete loop «embrasure» + HOLE(Cf. ↑holey) … English terms dictionary
loophole — [lo͞op′hōl΄] n. [ LOOP2 + HOLE] 1. a hole or narrow slit in the wall of a fort, etc., for looking or shooting through 2. a means of escape; esp., a means of evading or escaping an obligation, enforcement of a law or contract, etc … English World dictionary
loophole — n. 1) to find a loophole 2) to close a loophole 3) a tax loophole 4) a loophole in * * * [ luːphəʊl] a tax loophole a loophole in to close a loophole to find a loophole … Combinatory dictionary
loophole — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ legal, security, tax ▪ big, gaping, glaring, huge ▪ the gaping loopholes in our gun laws … Collocations dictionary
loophole — A technicality in some legislation or regulation that makes it possible to avoid certain consequences or circumvent a rule without breaking the law, such as in the use of a tax shelter. Bloomberg Financial Dictionary * * * loophole loop‧hole… … Financial and business terms
loophole — UK [ˈluːpˌhəʊl] / US [ˈlupˌhoʊl] noun [countable] Word forms loophole : singular loophole plural loopholes something that has been left out of a law or legal document that people can use to avoid obeying it He exploited a legal loophole in order… … English dictionary
