textualism
1
8.8
- noun
- /ˈtɛkstʃuəlɪzəm/
- Formal
:
textualismo
- In discussions of legal interpretation, textualism maintains that the meaning of a text should be derived solely from its wording.
- textualism and originalism
Examples
-
The rule of law ultimately points not to textualism but to republicanism, to the nature of our regime.
Academic text (1999) -
Textualism and originalism have had a resurgence because much can be said on their behalf.
Academic text (2001) -
Original intent and textualism ideas apply as well to amendments after the first 10.
Blog text (11) -
Scalia discusses views on textualism and the process of co-writing his new book.
Blog text (5) -
Justice Antonin Scalia has long been known as a champion of the legal philosophy of textualism, interpreting statutes by the writer's words.
Blog text (5) -
A proper application of Scalia-style originalism and textualism shows that the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Plyler v. Doe was correctly decided based on the original public meaning of the words of the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868.
Academic text (2017) -
The principle of textualism asserts that the interpretation of laws should be based strictly on the actual words used in the text.
-
Many legal scholars advocate for textualism as a way to ensure that laws are applied as they were originally intended.
Synonyms
5
8.6
Following rules or laws exactly without caring about their purpose
2
7.4
A habit of understanding words in their simple direct meaning rather than a deeper meaning
2
7.0
A way of reading laws or rules that follows their exact written words without allowing change
How Literal
- Formal
1
8.8
- Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Textualism starts with text, a common word for written words that comes from a Latin root meaning 'to weave', so you can think of a text as words woven together. The ending -ism means 'a belief or practice', so textualism is the practice of following the written words as the main guide to meaning.