textualism

[ teks-choo-uh-liz-uhm ]

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.: See also originalism.

Origin of textualism

1
First recorded in 1860–65; textual + -ism

Words Nearby textualism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use textualism in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for textualism

textualism

/ (ˈtɛkstjʊəˌlɪzəm) /


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

  2. textual criticism, esp of the Bible

Derived forms of textualism

  • textualist, noun, adjective

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