Standard Lemma guide

legalism

noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • CMU ARPABET: L IY1 G AH0 L IH2 Z AH0 M Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The focusing on the text of written law to the exclusion of the intent of law, elevating strict adherence to law over justice, mercy, grace and common sense.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: casuistry

Antonyms: antilegalism, nonlegalism

2

noun

Meaning 2

A belief that salvation is attained or maintained by adherence to the requirements of moral law; salvation by works rather than by faith alone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: derogatory, often, uncountable

Topics: lifestyle, religion

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: antilegalism, antinomianism, antinomism, solifidianism, nonlegalism

3

noun

Meaning 3

A legal axiom, term or rule.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Alternative letter-case form of Legalism.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Chinese, alt-of, uncountable

Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A school of thought, originating in ancient China during the Warring States period and officially adopted during the Qin dynasty, advocating rule by law as key to ensuring social stability.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

strict conformity to the letter of the law rather than its spirit

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: conformity, conformism

History

Etymology

From legal + -ism. Piecewise doublet of loyalism.

From legal + -ism, calque from Chinese 法家 (fǎjiā). Almost always capitalised.

Across languages

Translations

24 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 法律形式主義 /法律形式主义 — focusing on text instead of intent
  • Chinese Mandarin: 墨守成規 /墨守成规 (mòshǒuchéngguī) — focusing on text instead of intent
  • Finnish: legalismi — focusing on text instead of intent
  • French: juridisme — focusing on text instead of intent
  • Korean: 법률만능주의 (beomnyulmanneungjuui) — focusing on text instead of intent
  • Polish: legalizm — focusing on text instead of intent
  • Spanish: legalismo — focusing on text instead of intent
  • Chinese Mandarin: 律法主義 /律法主义 — salvation by works
  • Chinese Mandarin: 律法至上論 /律法至上论 — salvation by works
  • Finnish: legalismi — salvation by works
  • French: juridisme — salvation by works
  • Korean: 율법주의 (yulbeopjuui) — salvation by works
  • Chinese Mandarin: 法律格言 (fǎlǜ géyán) — legal axiom, term or rule
  • Chinese Mandarin: 法律原則 /法律原则 (fǎlǜ yuánzé) — legal axiom, term or rule
  • Finnish: lakimääräys — legal axiom, term or rule
  • Finnish: lakitermi — legal axiom, term or rule
  • Chinese Mandarin: 法家 (fǎjiā) — school of thought originating in ancient China
  • Finnish: legalismi — school of thought originating in ancient China
  • German: Legalismus — school of thought originating in ancient China
  • German: Legismus — school of thought originating in ancient China
  • Japanese: 法家 (hōka) — school of thought originating in ancient China
  • Korean: 법가 (beopga) — school of thought originating in ancient China
  • Russian: леги́зм (legízm) — school of thought originating in ancient China
  • Vietnamese: pháp gia — school of thought originating in ancient China