Legalist: meaning, definitions and examples

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legalist

 

[ ˈliːɡəlɪst ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

law and philosophy

A person who believes in strict adherence to the law, especially in a legalistic or literal sense. Legalists emphasize the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law.

Synonyms

purist, stickler, traditionalist

Examples of usage

  • The legalist argued that the contract must be followed exactly as written.
  • She is known as a legalist because she always follows the rules to the letter.
Context #2 | Noun

Chinese philosophy

A follower of the Chinese philosophy of Legalism, which emphasizes strict laws and harsh punishments to maintain order and control in society.

Synonyms

Legalistic philosopher, Legalistic thinker

Examples of usage

  • The Legalists believed that strict laws were necessary to govern society effectively.
  • Legalists promoted the idea that rulers should govern with a strong hand and enforce strict laws.

Translations

Translations of the word "legalist" in other languages:

🇵🇹 legalista

🇮🇳 क़ानूनवादी

🇩🇪 Legalist

🇮🇩 legalis

🇺🇦 легаліст

🇵🇱 legalista

🇯🇵 法家 (ほうか)

🇫🇷 légaliste

🇪🇸 legalista

🇹🇷 legalist

🇰🇷 합법주의자 (합법주의자)

🇸🇦 قانوني

🇨🇿 legalista

🇸🇰 legalista

🇨🇳 法家 (fǎjiā)

🇸🇮 legalist

🇮🇸 lögfræðingur

🇰🇿 заңгер

🇬🇪 ლეგალისტი

🇦🇿 hüquqşünas

🇲🇽 legalista

Word origin

The term 'legalist' originated from the Chinese philosophy of Legalism, which emerged during the Warring States period in ancient China. Legalists believed in the importance of strict laws and harsh punishments to maintain social order and control. The concept of legalism influenced not only Chinese governance but also Western philosophical thought, particularly in the context of strict adherence to laws and regulations.

See also: illegal, illegally, legalistic, legality, legally.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,702, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.