rules lawyer
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Someone who attempts to take advantage of a given set of rules, usually by using an overly-literal interpretation that is contrary to their intent, or by selectively choosing which rules take precedence in a given situation.
Register: derogatory, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “rules lawyer” mean?
Someone who attempts to take advantage of a given set of rules, usually by using an overly-literal interpretation that is contrary to their intent, or by selectively choosing which rules take precedence in a given situation.
Is “rules lawyer” formal or informal?
rules lawyer is generally derogatory, slang.