Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

exception that proves the rule

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.84 in modern English

Syllables: ex-cep-tion that proves the rule
IPA

48

Scrabble Score

26

Letters

3

Syllables

15

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The rare occurrence of a counterexample to a rule, used to demonstrate that the rule exists.

Example Sentences

"A bishop ... is not bound to obey any Mandate but the King's; which Exception proves the Rule, and that he is inexcusably oblig'd to obey the King's"
"Some statutes give justices of the peace a power of proceeding on default, but the exception proves the rule in the thing not excepted; it seems therefore that the defendant should have been apprehended by a warrant"

Etymology

Derived from the medieval Latin legal principle "exceptio probat regulam in casibus non exceptis" ("the exception tests the rule in the cases not excepted").

Inflected Forms

exceptions that prove the rule (plural) exceptions that prove rules (plural)

Phrases

exception proves the rule the exception proves the rule every law has its loophole honor in the breach more honored in the breach the proof of the pudding is in the eating

Frequently Paired Words

exception proves the rule the exception proves the rule every law has its loophole honor in the breach more honored in the breach the proof of the pudding is in the eating

Questions

What does exception that proves the rule mean?: The rare occurrence of a counterexample to a rule, used to demonstrate that the rule exists.
Where does exception that proves the rule come from?: Derived from the medieval Latin legal principle "exceptio probat regulam in casibus non exceptis" ("the exception tests the rule in the cases not excepted").

How to pronounce exception that proves the rule

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