anti-legalist
|an-ti-le-gal-ist|
/ˌæn.tiˈliːɡəlɪst/
against legalism
Etymology
'anti-legalist' originates from a combination of the Greek prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') and the English formation 'legalist' (from Latin 'legalis' > English 'legal' plus the suffix '-ist' meaning 'one who adheres to or practices').
'anti-legalist' was formed in modern English by compounding 'anti-' + 'legalist'; 'legal' comes from Latin 'legalis' and the agentive suffix '-ist' is from English usage. The compound arose in 19th–20th century discourse (religious, political, philosophical) to describe opposition to legalism.
Initially, components meant 'against' + 'one who adheres to law/rule' (i.e., opposed to adherents of legalism); over time the compound has come to be used more broadly for opposition to strict or formalistic application of laws or rules.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who opposes legalism — someone who rejects strict, literal, or excessive adherence to laws, rules, or established legal doctrines (often used in religious, political, or philosophical contexts).
As an anti-legalist, he argued that strict laws stifled personal freedom.
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Adjective 1
opposed to legalism; critical of strict or literal application of laws, rules, or formal procedures.
Her anti-legalist stance influenced the committee's recommendations.
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Last updated: 2025/11/02 03:28