constructionist
5
8.5
- noun
- /kənˈstrʌkʃənɪst/
- Specialized
:
textualista
- The judge's ruling reflects his status as a constructionist, emphasizing a strict interpretation of legislative texts.
- a strict constructionist
Well, if you're a strict constructionist, Adam, that would be construed as an impediment on your, the expression of your right to bear arms.
- Well, if you're a strict constructionist, Adam, that would be construed as an impediment on your, the expression of your right to bear arms.
Examples
-
President Nixon seized on this resentment when he called for the appointment of "strict constructionists" to the Supreme Court.
Academic text (1993) -
As a result, the Russians, along with the Chinese, are the leading proponents of a "strict constructionist" interpretation of the United Nations Charter, especially regarding those sections dealing with the use of force.
Academic text (2001) -
As I am a strict constructionist, I take the Constitution quite literally.
Blog text (32) -
It's funny, though, you never see strict constructionists rule that way.
Blog text (11) -
The Constitutional "strict constructionists" pretend they know exactly what the Founding Fathers meant when they wrote the Constitution.
Blog text (8) -
I think you underestimate the humility of the strict constructionists.
Blog text (8) -
On Constitutionalism—there were plenty of strict constructionists among the Jeffersonians and Jacksonians.
Blog text (18) -
As a renowned legal scholar, he identifies as a constructionist who prioritizes the original intent of the Constitution.
-
During the debate, she advocated for constructionists in the legal field, arguing that their interpretations ensure the law is applied as intended.
Synonyms
4
8.6
A person who interprets laws or constitutions as people understood them when written
4
8.1
A person who takes words only in their exact meaning and ignores other meanings
1
7.4
A person who judges ideas by how well they work
1
8.8
A person who interprets laws using only their exact words
1
7.5
A person who follows laws and rules very strictly
1
8.4
A person who studies how parts fit together in systems like language or culture
A person who questions fixed meanings and power in language and culture
How Supportive
282
4.1
817
1.0
- Specialized
5
8.5
37
4.8
- US
77
4.1
563
3.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
constructionist = construction (semi-transparent) = construct + ion + ist
The meaning is derived from 'construction' but involves a specific legal or philosophical context.
Etymology
Constructionist comes from construct, from Latin construere meaning 'to build', and the ending -ist. In law and philosophy the idea is that people 'build' meaning from a text, so a constructionist supports a way of interpreting documents by how they are constructed.