Loophole vs. Caveat — What's the Difference?

A loophole is an ambiguity or inadequacy in a system, such as a law or security, which can be used to circumvent or otherwise avoid the purpose, implied or explicitly stated, of the system. Originally, the word meant an arrowslit, a narrow vertical window in a wall through which an archer (or, later, gunman) could shoot.

A warning or caution

A way of avoiding or escaping a cost or legal burden that would otherwise apply by means of an omission or ambiguity in the wording of a contract or law.

A qualification or explanation.

A small hole or slit in a wall, especially one through which small arms may be fired.

(Law) A formal notice filed by an interested party requesting postponement of a court proceeding or other action until the filer can be heard.

(historical) A slit in a castle wall; today, any similar window for shooting a ranged weapon or letting in light. Also written loop hole.

To submit a caveat.

(figurative) A method of escape, especially an ambiguity or exception in a rule or law that can be exploited in order to avoid its effect.

(Law) To make a caveat to (a will, for example).

To prepare a building for defense by preparing slits or holes through which to fire on attackers

(Informal) To qualify with a warning or clarification

(transitive) To exploit (a law, etc.) by means of loopholes.

A warning.

A small opening, as in the walls of fortification, or in the bulkhead of a ship, through which small arms or other weapons may be discharged at an enemy.

A qualification or exemption.

A hole or aperture that gives a passage, or the means of escape or evasion.

(law) A formal objection.

An amibiguity or unintended omission in a law, rule, regulation, or contract which allows a party to circumvent the intent of the text and avoid its obligations under certain circumstances. - used usually in a negative sense; - distinguished from escape clause in that the latter usually is included to deliberately allow evasion of obligation under certain specified and foreseen circumstances; as, a loophole in the law big enough to drive a truck through.

(law) A formal notice of interest in land under a Torrens land-title system.

An ambiguity (especially one in the text of a law or contract) that makes it possible to evade a difficulty or obligation

(law) A notice requesting a postponement of a court proceeding.

A small hole in a fortified wall; for observation or discharging weapons

To qualify a statement with a caveat or proviso.

To formally object to something.

To lodge a formal notice of interest in land under a Torrens land-title system.

To issue a notice requesting that proceedings be suspended.

To warn or caution against some event.

A notice given by an interested party to some officer not to do a certain act until the party is heard in opposition; as, a caveat entered in a probate court to stop the proving of a will or the taking out of letters of administration, etc.

A description of some invention, designed to be patented, lodged in the patent office before the patent right is applied for, and operating as a bar to the issue of letters patent to any other person, respecting the same invention.

Intimation of caution; warning; protest.

A warning against certain acts;

(law) a formal notice filed with a court or officer to suspend a proceeding until filer is given a hearing;