legalism

[ lee-guh-liz-uh m ]

/ ˈli gəˌlɪz əm /

noun

strict adherence, or the principle of strict adherence, to law or prescription, especially to the letter rather than the spirit.

Theology.

the doctrine that salvation is gained through good works.
the judging of conduct in terms of adherence to precise laws.

(initial capital letter) (in Chinese philosophy) the principles and practices of a school of political theorists advocating strict legal control over all activities, a system of rewards and punishments uniform for all classes, and an absolute monarchy.

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Origin of legalism

First recorded in 1830–40; legal + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM legalism

le·gal·ist, nounle·gal·is·tic, adjectivele·gal·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby legalism

legal separation, legal tender, legal weight, legal-size, legalese, legalism, legalistic, legality, legalize, leganés, legaspi

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for legalism

So they had just simply said until—in other words, he is inexact for all his legalism.
Warren Commission (11 of 26): Hearings Vol. XI (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
When taken together, they furnish a triumphant answer to the legalism and antinomianism of the human heart.
Notes on the Book of Genesis|Charles Henry Mackintosh
We have, then, the introduction of legalism into the casual affairs of the tropics, and the vanishing of primitive license.
The Pacific Triangle|Sydney Greenbie
To rest human salvation on self-improvement and social reform, is legalism over again.
The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Galatians|G. G. Findlay

But this view, though it had a strong hold on very noble minds, was at bottom a legalism out of touch with reality.
A History of the United States|Cecil Chesterton

British Dictionary definitions for legalism

legalism

/ (ˈliːɡəˌlɪzəm) /

noun

strict adherence to the law, esp the stressing of the letter of the law rather than its spirit

Derived forms of legalism

legalist, noun, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012