textualism

/tɛkˈstjuːəlɪzəm/

Definitions

1. noun

The interpretation or analysis of a text, document, or law based solely on its written or literal meaning, without consideration of extrinsic factors or context.

“The judge’s textualism approach to the law led him to interpret the statute in a narrow and strict way.”

Synonyms

  • formalism
  • literalism

Antonyms

  • contextualism
  • interpretivism