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

Examples of technicality in a Sentence

These cases were dropped because of legal technicalities.

Recent Examples on the Web

In quick succession, a second woman is found murdered, the suspect’s lawyer (Kelly Bishop) is killed with poison gas, and the judge (Judith Light) who set the suspect free on a technicality is almost killed in her home. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Nov. 2026

The song and most of the album doesn’t focus at all on the technicality of music. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2026

The case was tossed out in September based on a legal technicality. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Avoiding the wooden spoon on a technicality or tiebreaker means nothing in the grand scheme of things. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

technical entry 1 + -ity

First Known Use

1764, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for technicality

• abnormality
• cardinality
• commonality
• communality
• cordiality
• corporeality
• criminality
• criticality
• functionality
• generality
• geniality
• hospitality

Kids Definition

technicality

noun

tech·​ni·​cal·​i·​ty ˌtek-nə-ˈkal-ət-ē 

plural technicalities

1

: something technical

especially : a detail that means something only to a specialist

a legal technicality

2

: the quality or state of being technical