legalism
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le·gal·ism
(lē′gə-lĭz′əm)n.
1. Overly strict or rigid adherence to the law or to a religious or moral code.
2. A legal term or expression, especially one that is unnecessarily technical.
le′gal·ist n.
le′gal·is′tic adj.
le′gal·is′ti·cal·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
legalism
(ˈliːɡəˌlɪzəm)n
(Law) strict adherence to the law, esp the stressing of the letter of the law rather than its spirit
ˈlegalist n, adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
le•gal•ism
(ˈli gəˌlɪz əm)n.
1. strict adherence to law or prescription, esp. to the letter rather than the spirit.
2. the theological doctrine that salvation is gained through good works.
[1830–40]
le′gal•ist, n.
le`gal•is′tic, adj.
le`gal•is′ti•cal•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
legalism
Theology. 1. the doctrine that salvation is gained through good works.
2. the judging of conduct in terms of strict adherence to precise laws. — legalist, n. — legalistic, adj.
See also: Religion2. the judging of conduct in terms of strict adherence to precise laws. — legalist, n. — legalistic, adj.
a strict and usually literal adherence to the law. — legalistic, adj.
See also: Law-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Noun | 1. | legalism - strict conformity to the letter of the law rather than its spirit conformism, conformity - orthodoxy in thoughts and belief |
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