legalistic

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌliːɡəˈlɪstɪk/ UK /ˌliːɡəˈlɪstɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #112084

Meanings

1

adj
excessively concerned with the strict and literal application of laws or rules, often at the expense of their purpose

The committee rejected a legalistic reading that ignored the policy's humanitarian aim.
2

adj
relating to legalism, especially the belief that moral or religious conduct consists mainly in obeying prescribed rules

The teacher warned that a legalistic faith could reduce ethical judgment to a checklist.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · excessively concerned with... formalisticrule-boundliteral-minded

2 adj · relating to legalism,... legalistdoctrinaire rigid

Opposites

flexible pragmatic equitable

Word family

Derived forms legalisticallynonlegalisticunlegalistic

Related forms legalismlegalistliteralismlaw

Etymology

Formed from legalist + -ic, or legal + -istic. Legalist ultimately derives from Latin legalis, 'relating to law,' from lex, 'law.' The usually critical modern sense contrasts adherence to a rule's letter with attention to its spirit.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# legalistic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌliːɡəˈlɪstɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌliːɡəˈlɪstɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 112084

## Meanings
1. excessively concerned with the strict and literal application of laws or rules, often at the expense of their purpose
2. relating to legalism, especially the belief that moral or religious conduct consists mainly in obeying prescribed rules

## Examples
- The committee rejected a legalistic reading that ignored the policy's humanitarian aim.
- The teacher warned that a legalistic faith could reduce ethical judgment to a checklist.

## Synonyms
- formalistic
- rule-bound
- literal-minded
- doctrinaire
- rigid

## Antonyms
- flexible
- pragmatic
- equitable

## Derived Forms
- legalistically
- nonlegalistic
- unlegalistic

## Related Forms
- legalism
- legalist
- literalism
- law

## Etymology
Formed from legalist + -ic, or legal + -istic. Legalist ultimately derives from Latin legalis, 'relating to law,' from lex, 'law.' The usually critical modern sense contrasts adherence to a rule's letter with attention to its spirit.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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