legalist
/ˈliːɡəlɪst/
noun
- A person who strictly follows the law or a set of rules, often ignoring the spirit or purpose behind them.
- Legalists in the office make it hard to get anything done quickly because they demand perfect paperwork.
- My uncle is a legalist who insists on reading every contract clause before signing.
- The teacher was seen as a legalist because she gave detention for every minor infraction.
- A person who believes in or advocates for legalism, especially in religion or philosophy.
- In the debate, the legalist quoted scripture to support a strict interpretation of the rules.
- The legalist argued that salvation depends on following every commandment without exception.
- Many legalists in history have focused on outward behavior rather than inner faith.
Synonyms