exception that proves the rule

English

Alternative forms

• exception proves the rule
• the exception proves the rule

Etymology

It is derived from the medieval Latin legal principle: exceptio probat regulam in casibus non exceptis (the exception confirms the rule in the cases not excepted).

Noun

exception that proves the rule

1. A form of argument in which the existence of a counterexample to a rule is used to demonstrate the fact that a rule exists.
2. (idiomatic) The rare occurrence of a counterexample to a rule, used to underscore that the rule exists

Translations

a form of argument

• Czech: výjimka potvrzující pravidlo (cs) f
• Danish: undtagelsen bekræfter regelen (da)
• Dutch: uitzondering die de regel bevestigt (nl)
• French: l'exception confirme la regle (fr)
• German: Ausnahmen bestätigen die Regel (de), Ausnahmen bekräftigen die Regel (de)

• Icelandic: undantekningin sannar regluna (is)
• Italian: eccezione che conferma la regola (it) f
• Latin: exceptio probat rēgulam (la)
• Portuguese: exceção que prova a regra (pt) f
• Spanish: excepción que confirma la regla (es)

References

• World Wide Words
• “The exception that proves the rule”, The Phrase Finder, Gary Martin.
• The Straight Dope

See also

• the proof of the pudding is in the eating