textualism

American  

[teks-choo-uh-liz-uhm] / ˈtɛks tʃu əˌlɪz əm /

noun

1. strict adherence to a text, especially of the Scriptures.

2. Law. the doctrine that a legal document or statute should be interpreted by determining the relatively objective ordinary meaning of its words and phrases, without regard to historical context or legislative history.

   Textualism holds, that when applying the law, the words of the Constitution itself are to be the final authority.

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textualism British  

/ ˈtɛkstjʊəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. doctrinaire adherence to a text, esp of the Bible

2. textual criticism, esp of the Bible

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Other Word Forms

• textualist noun

Etymology

Origin of textualism

First recorded in 1860–65; textual + -ism

Example Sentences

Oldham’s contortionist opinion reaching a contrary result is especially rich coming from a judge purporting to apply textualism—looking at the meaning of the text as understood by an ordinary English reader at the time Congress passed the statute.

From Slate

But there are many more arguments than just plain textualism supporting a reversal in Watson.

From Slate

That seems odd: Scalia’s entire judicial career, promoting originalism and textualism for constraining judicial activism, stands in opposition to the judicial mindset pioneered in Griswold.

From The Wall Street Journal

What we have here is a classic dispute over textualism, the theory that judges should look exclusively to the plain text of the statute to discover its meaning.

From Slate

Gorsuch is a steadfast advocate of textualism.

From Slate