special pleading
noun
Law.
pleading that alleges special or new matter in avoidance of the allegations made by the opposite side.
pleading or arguing that ignores unfavorable features of a case.
Origin of special pleading
First recorded in 1675–85
Words nearby special pleading
Example sentences from the Web for special pleading
In writing biography, special-pleading is not good; and I would fain avoid trying to make the Poet out any better than he was.
Shakespeare: His Life, Art, And Characters, Volume I. |H. N. HudsonA special-pleading signification is given to this dogma by the Commentator: viz.
Hindu Law and Judicature |Yjnavalkya
British Dictionary definitions for special pleading
special pleading
noun law
a pleading that alleges new facts that offset those put forward by the other side rather than directly admitting or denying those facts
a pleading that emphasizes the favourable aspects of a case while omitting the unfavourable