exception that proves the rule

noun

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

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Meanings

nounexception that proves the rule (plural exceptions that prove the rule or exceptions that prove rules)

plural exceptions that prove the rule · plural exceptions that prove rules

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

    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

    1688, [anonymous], An Answer to a Paper Importing a Petition of the Archbishop of Canterbury and Six other Bishops to His Majesty, London: Henry Hills, page 14
    1 more example

    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

    1775, "A Gentleman of Lincoln's Inn", A Digest of Adjudged Cases in the Court of King's Bench, London: G. Kearsly and G. Robinson, page 85

Origin

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

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Czech výjimka potvrzující pravidlo, výjimka potvrzuje pravidlo
  • výjimka potvrzující pravidlooccurrence of counterexample
  • výjimka potvrzuje pravidlooccurrence of counterexample
Dutch uitzondering die de regel bevestigt
  • uitzondering die de regel bevestigtoccurrence of counterexample
Finnish poikkeus, joka vahvistaa säännön
  • poikkeus, joka vahvistaa säännönoccurrence of counterexample
French exception qui confirme la règle
  • exception qui confirme la règleoccurrence of counterexample
German Ausnahme, die die Regel bestätigt, more idiomatically one says Ausnahmen bestätigen die Regel
  • Ausnahme, die die Regel bestätigtoccurrence of counterexample
  • more idiomatically one says Ausnahmen bestätigen die Regeloccurrence of counterexample
Hungarian a szabályt erősítő kivétel
  • a szabályt erősítő kivételoccurrence of counterexample
Italian eccezione che conferma la regola
  • eccezione che conferma la regolaoccurrence of counterexample
Norwegian Bokmål unntaket som bekrefter regelen
  • unntaket som bekrefter regelenoccurrence of counterexample
Polish but see wyjątek potwierdza regułę
  • but see wyjątek potwierdza regułęoccurrence of counterexample
Portuguese exceção que prova a regra
  • exceção que prova a regraoccurrence of counterexample
Russian исключе́ние, подтвержда́ющее пра́вило
  • исключе́ние, подтвержда́ющее пра́вило (isključénije, podtverždájuščeje právilo)occurrence of counterexample
Spanish excepción que confirma la regla
  • excepción que confirma la reglaoccurrence of counterexample
Swedish undantaget som bekräftar regeln
  • undantaget som bekräftar regelnoccurrence of counterexample
Cite this entry
APA

exception that proves the rule. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/exception%20that%20proves%20the%20rule

MLA

“exception that proves the rule.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/exception%20that%20proves%20the%20rule. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “exception that proves the rule,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/exception%20that%20proves%20the%20rule.

Source: exception that proves the rule on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.