technicality
/ˌtɛknɪˈkalɪti
/noun (plural technicalities)
1A point of law or a small detail of a set of rules, as contrasted with the intent or purpose of the rules: their convictions were overturned on a technicality...
- And in a third major terrorism case, the Justices ruled on a technicality, sidestepping the merits of that case.
- The Court must rule on a technicality about the institution's legal status, not that the director was a serial abuser.
- The only people it really helps are those accused of crime in the courts, to allow them sometimes to get off on a technicality.
1.1 (technicalities) The specific details or terms belonging to a particular field: he has great expertise in the technicalities of the game...
- Previously the field was very messy, in terms of the technicalities.
- Rob, though, feels a professional and moral obligation to put technicalities in plain terms.
- Some saw the ad as providing explanation and making them think, but for others there were too many technicalities to come to terms with.
1.2 [mass noun] The state of being technical; the use of technical terms or methods: the extreme technicality of the proposed constitution...
- The nature of average war cinema is one that trivializes the human consequences of war for a focus on pure excitement, strategy and technicality.
- He skilfully manages to convey the meat of the science without undue technicality, but also without any dumbing down.
- The band's strong technicality is vividly evident throughout.