A form of argument in which the existence of a counterexample to a rule is used to demonstrate the fact that a rule exists.

Etymology:

  • It is derived from the medieval Latin legal principle: exceptio probat regulam in casibus non exceptis.
21 Views

Submitted on July 07, 2010

Additional definitions for 'exception that proves the rule':

exception that proves the ruleThe rare occurrence of a counterexample to a rule, used to underscore that the rule exists
See them all »

Translation

Find a translation for the exception that proves the rule phrase in other languages:

Ausnahme, die die Regel bestätigt

escepto, kiu pruvas la regulon

excepción que prueba la regla

exception qui prouve la règle

eccezione che dimostra la regola

ルールを証明する例外

исключение, которое подтверждает правило

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to exception that proves the rule

How to pronounce this phrase?

Discuss this exception that proves the rule phrase with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this exception that proves the rule definition to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "exception that proves the rule." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 17 Nov. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/exception-that-proves-the-rule_12203>.

    We need you!

    Help us build the largest human-edited phrases collection on the web!

    Quiz

    Are you a phrases master?

    »
    Form is temporary, _______ is permanent.
    A patience
    B strength
    C class
    D tension