legalists
|le-gal-ist-s|
/ˈliːɡəlɪsts/
(legalist)
strict rule- or law-following
Etymology
'legalist' originates from English, formed by combining 'legal' (from Latin 'legalis', ultimately from 'lex, legis') and the agent suffix '-ist' (from Greek/Latin meaning 'one who practices or is concerned with').
'legal' derives from Latin 'legalis' (from 'lex, legis' meaning 'law'), which entered English via Old French/late Latin usage; the English compound 'legalist' appeared by adding the productive English suffix '-ist' to form a noun meaning 'one who adheres to the law'.
Initially the elements referred simply to 'law' and 'one who practices or advocates'; over time the compound 'legalist' came to denote specifically a person who emphasizes strict adherence to law or rules and acquired a often critical/pejorative sense in moral and religious discussions.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who insists on strict, literal adherence to laws, rules, or formal procedures, often at the expense of broader principles or context.
Many critics accused the committee of being legalists who valued procedure over people.
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Noun 2
(Historical/theological) Someone who emphasizes observance of religious laws or ritual observance as the basis of righteousness (often used pejoratively in Christian contexts to describe opponents of doctrines of grace).
In the early debates some labeled their opponents legalists for insisting on strict ritual observance.
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Last updated: 2025/11/09 14:04