technicality

English

Etymology

technical +‎ -ity

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌtɛknɪˈkælɪti/

Noun

technicality (countable and uncountable, plural technicalities)

1. The quality or state of being technical.
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     At her invitation he outlined for her the succeeding chapters with terse military accuracy ; and what she liked best and best understood was avoidance of that false modesty which condescends, turning technicality into pabulum.

2. That which is technical, or peculiar to any trade, profession, sect, or the like.

   the technicalities of the sect

3. (law) a seemingly insignificant detail with unexpected consequences
   • 1948, David K. Breed, The Trial of Christ from Legal and Scriptural Viewpoint, Library of Alexandria, →ISBN, page 8:

     These are some of the "Reversible Errors" on which a new trial can be had and are often spoken of by misinformed business men as "technicalities," as when they say a certain gangster "got off on a technicality" or "got a new trial on a technicality."

   • 1996, Thomas Robert Shannon Broughton, Imperium Sine Fine, Franz Steiner Verlag, →ISBN, page 75:

     Mommsen believed that Claudius had been an augur who was ordered by a chief pontiff Metellus to inaugurate Sulpicius son of Servius as a priest, that Claudius declined on grounds of a religious technicality, that Claudius was subsequently fined by the chief pontiff, and that Claudius appealed the fine.

   • 2002, Robert Scott, Savage, Pinnacle Books, →ISBN, page 67:

     Benjamin Gonzales is a suspect in Dondi Johnson's murder - the only suspect we've ever had and the only suspect we ever will have. But at present we don't have a fileable case because of a legal technicality.

   • 2011, Beth Walston-Dunham, Introduction to Law, Cengage Learning, →ISBN, page 554:

     How often do we hear about someone who “got away” with committing a crime or who “got off on a technicality”? This type of remark is common when discussions arise about the shortcomings of the U.S. legal system.

Synonyms

• (quality or state of being technical): technicalness