exception that proves the rule

English

Etymology

It is derived from the medieval Latin legal principle: exceptio probat regulam in casibus non exceptis (the exception tests the rule in the cases not excepted).

Noun

exception that proves the rule

1. A form of argument in which the existence of a counterexample to a rule is used to demonstrate the fact that a rule exists.
2. (idiomatic) The rare occurrence of a counterexample to a rule, used to underscore that the rule exists.

Alternative forms

• exception proves the rule
• the exception proves the rule

Translations

a form of argument

• Czech: výjimka potvrzující pravidlo f
• Danish: undtagelsen bekræfter regelen
• Dutch: uitzondering die de regel bevestigt
• French: l'exception confirme la regle
• German: Ausnahmen bestätigen die Regel (de), Ausnahmen bekräftigen die Regel
• Icelandic: undantekningin sannar regluna
• Italian: eccezione che conferma la regola f

• Latin: exceptio probat rēgulam
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: unntaket som bekrefter regelen

• Portuguese: exceção que prova a regra f
• Russian: исключе́ние, подтвержда́ющее пра́вило n (isključénije, podtverždájuščeje právilo)
• Spanish: excepción que confirma la regla

References

• “The exception that proves the rule” in Gary Martin, The Phrase Finder, 1997–, retrieved 26 February 2017.
• “Exception that proves the rule” in Michael Quinion, World Wide Words^[1], 14 September 2002.
• The Straight Dope

See also

• the proof of the pudding is in the eating