Loophole

For other uses, see Loophole (disambiguation).

A loophole is an ambiguity or inadequacy in a system, such as a law or security, which can be used to circumvent or otherwise avoid the purpose, implied or explicitly stated, of the system.

Originally, the word means an arrowslit, a narrow vertical window in a wall through which an archer could shoot.

Loopholes are distinct from lacunae, although the two terms are often used interchangeably. In a loophole, a law addressing a certain issue exists, but can be legally circumvented due to a technical defect in the law. A lacuna, on the other hand, is a situation whereby no law exists in the first place to address that particular issue.

Use and remediation

See also: Collective intelligence and White hat (computer security)

Loopholes are searched for and used strategically in a variety of circumstances, including elections, politics, taxes, the criminal justice system, or in breaches of security.

See also

• Ambiguity
• Copyfraud
• Evasion
• Fine print
• Gaming the system
• Gerrymandering
• Grey market
• Gun show loophole
• Legal abuse
• Legal technicality
• Letter and spirit of the law
• Piggybacking
• Quibble
• Non liquet, otherwise known as a legal lacuna