textualist
Americannoun
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a person who adheres closely to a text, especially of the Scriptures.
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a person who is well versed in the text of the Scriptures.
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Law. a person who adheres to the doctrine that a legal document or statute should be interpreted by determining the relatively objective ordinary meaning of its words and phrases.
Justice Hugo Black took a literal reading of the Bill of Rights, leading to his reputation as a textualist.
Etymology
Origin of textualist
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh echoed these concerns: “We are a textualist Court but usually not a literalist Court,” he said.
From Slate ● Oct. 17, 2026
But if we go by a rigid textualist reading of the 22nd Amendment, it could happen.
From Slate ● Jan. 4, 2025
According to the textualist position associated with the late Justice Antonin Scalia, legal words mean what they say.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 21, 2024
“Dune” made it clear that Villeneuve isn’t that kind of textualist.
From New York Times ● Feb. 29, 2024
Tex′tuary, a textualist; Tex′tus, the authoritative text, esp. of the Bible.—Textus receptus, the received text of the Greek Testament.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various
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