legalism

[ lee-guh-liz-uhm ]

/ ˈli gəˌlɪz əm /

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See synonyms for: legalistic on Thesaurus.com

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 cap, legal dictionary, legal eagle, legalese, legal holiday, legalism, legalistic, legality, legalize, Le Gallienne, legal list

How to use legalism in a sentence

Two great intellectual currents came together over the past century to bring America to this state of hyper-legalism.
So Many Laws, So Little Time|Philip K. Howard|February 17, 2009|DAILY BEAST
The writer is ill-equipped to estimate the peculiar value of Roman legalism to mankind.
The Outline of History: Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind|Herbert George Wells
With this legalism went a spirit of intense exclusiveness and narrow ecclesiasticism.
Outspoken Essays|William Ralph Inge
Is it to a disinterested and even-handed justice, the high legalism of the Golden Rule, which would be the humanist's way?
Preaching and Paganism|Albert Parker Fitch

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
(come into being a Pharisaic legalism) Page 140: Changed subconsious to subconscious.
The Higher Powers of Mind and Spirit|Ralph Waldo Trine

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