special pleading

noun

Arguing that a particular case is an exception to a generally accepted rule, without justification and without a relevant basis.

Similar
stacking the deck
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Meanings

nounspecial pleading (countable and uncountable, plural special pleadings)

plural special pleadings

  1. countableuncountableArguing that a particular case is an exception to a generally accepted rule, without justification and without a relevant basis.

    Lt. Gilbert deserves a full and fair hearing just like everyone else, no matter how the chips fall, no special pleading, and no playing the gender card.

    1997 September 30, The Court-Martial of Sandra Gilbert (JAG), season 3, episode 2

    Synonyms: stacking the deck

Synonyms & antonyms

nounArguing that a particular case is an exception to a generally accepted rule, without justification and without a relevant basis.

Similar
stacking the deck
Cite this entry
APA

special pleading. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/special%20pleading

MLA

“special pleading.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/special%20pleading. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “special pleading,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/special%20pleading.

Source: special pleading on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.