technicality
noun
tech·ni·cal·i·ty ˌtek-nə-ˈka-lə-tē 
plural technicalities
1
: something technical
especially : a detail meaningful only to a specialist
a legal technicality
2
: the quality or state of being technical
Example Sentences
These cases were dropped because of legal technicalities.
Recent Examples on the Web Wiseman’s first court date ended in a mistrial on a technicality. 
Marisa Ingemi, San Francisco Chronicle, 20 Aug. 2022 That the greatest gun control victory in a generation might be the result of a legal technicality offers an object lesson about political mobilization. Jake Bittle, The New Republic, 9 June 2022 That’s on a sort of technicality, for now: This week’s chart is part of Billboard’s Jan. 1, 2022 issue, and dated as such, so Carey can now say her song was No. 1 in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Dec. 2021 Germany's decision not to approve Nord Stream 2 for now because the pipeline operator is based in Switzerland appears to be based on a legal technicality. Julia Horowitz, CNN, 18 Nov. 2021 Cameron is rescheduling because the original wedding did not take place, which the couple rightly believes is more than a technicality. Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2022 Hamza postponed the bail hearing to Sept. 1 due to a technicality with the postmortem report, which was not yet finalized. Mark Guarino, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2022 The Senate had approved the bill on June 16, 2022, but during a second vote over a minor technicality, Republican senators blocked its passage less than two weeks later. Jason A. Higgins, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2022 But that technicality will be small consolation even if second-quarter growth stumbles in between 0% and 1%. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 25 July 2022 See More
Marisa Ingemi, San Francisco Chronicle, 20 Aug. 2022 That the greatest gun control victory in a generation might be the result of a legal technicality offers an object lesson about political mobilization. Jake Bittle, The New Republic, 9 June 2022 That’s on a sort of technicality, for now: This week’s chart is part of Billboard’s Jan. 1, 2022 issue, and dated as such, so Carey can now say her song was No. 1 in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Dec. 2021 Germany's decision not to approve Nord Stream 2 for now because the pipeline operator is based in Switzerland appears to be based on a legal technicality. Julia Horowitz, CNN, 18 Nov. 2021 Cameron is rescheduling because the original wedding did not take place, which the couple rightly believes is more than a technicality. Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2022 Hamza postponed the bail hearing to Sept. 1 due to a technicality with the postmortem report, which was not yet finalized. Mark Guarino, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2022 The Senate had approved the bill on June 16, 2022, but during a second vote over a minor technicality, Republican senators blocked its passage less than two weeks later. Jason A. Higgins, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2022 But that technicality will be small consolation even if second-quarter growth stumbles in between 0% and 1%. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 25 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
technical entry 1 + -ity
First Known Use
1764, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
technicality
noun
tech·ni·cal·i·ty ˌtek-nə-ˈka-lə-tē
plural technicalities
: something that is understood only by a person with special training
a legal technicality
technicality
noun
as in subtlety
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- subtlety
- ramification
- side effect
- complexity
- intricacy
- matter
- side reaction
- inconvenience
- bitch
- aftereffect
- complication
- headache
- convolution
- complicacy
- difficulty
- annoyance
- trouble
- bother