legalism

[ lee-guh-liz-uhm ]

noun

1. strict adherence, or the principle of strict adherence, to law or prescription, especially to the letter rather than the spirit.
2. Theology.
   1. the doctrine that salvation is gained through good works.
   2. the judging of conduct in terms of adherence to precise laws.
3. (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.

legalism

/ ˈliːɡəˌlɪzəm /

noun

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

Derived Forms

• ˈlegalist, nounadjective

Other Words From

• legal·ist noun
• legal·istic adjective
• legal·isti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of legalism¹

First recorded in 1830–40; legal + -ism

Example Sentences

Two great intellectual currents came together over the past century to bring America to this state of hyper-legalism.

From The Daily Beast

The writer is ill-equipped to estimate the peculiar value of Roman legalism to mankind.

From Project Gutenberg

With this legalism went a spirit of intense exclusiveness and narrow ecclesiasticism.

From Project Gutenberg

Is it to a disinterested and even-handed justice, the high legalism of the Golden Rule, which would be the humanist's way?

From Project Gutenberg

We have, then, the introduction of legalism into the casual affairs of the tropics, and the vanishing of primitive license.

From Project Gutenberg

(come into being a Pharisaic legalism) Page 140: Changed subconsious to subconscious.

From Project Gutenberg