Added 9 October 2026
loophole
/ˈluːphəʊl/ noun
Latin root: loupa Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about loophole at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- An ambiguity (especially one in the text of a law or contract) that makes it possible to evade a difficulty or obligation.
- A small hole in a fortified wall; for observation or discharging weapons.
Origin
From Middle English loupe (“opening in a wall”) + hole, from a Germanic source. By surface analysis, loop + hole. Compare Medieval Latin loupa, lobia and Middle Dutch lupen (“to watch”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)