Legalistic

The adjective 'legalistic' describes a strict adherence to the law or legal rules, often to the point of being excessive or inflexible. It implies an emphasis on the letter of the law rather than the spirit, sometimes leading to interpretations that are overly technical or detached from ethical considerations. A legalistic approach frequently prioritizes form over substance, potentially resulting in outcomes that are unjust or unreasonable. It can also suggest a focus on enforcing regulations rigidly, even when such enforcement seems counterproductive or insensitive to individual circumstances.

Legalistic meaning with examples

• The company's legalistic approach to customer service, rigidly following every clause in the contract, often resulted in frustrating and unresolved issues, despite genuine customer needs. This focus on procedure, rather than people, hurt customer satisfaction and caused bad reviews.
• The judge's legalistic interpretation of the statute, meticulously examining every word and phrase, led to a verdict that many considered unfair, demonstrating how rigid adherence to the law can sometimes yield unjust results, ignoring the contextual circumstances of the case.
• The government's legalistic response to the public health crisis, narrowly focusing on regulations and neglecting the practical needs of individuals, further damaged people’s trust and exacerbated existing inequalities.
• Her legalistic style in the workplace, precisely adhering to every policy, led to operational inefficiencies and a reluctance to adapt to changing circumstances, creating friction among colleagues who desired more flexibility.
• Despite their good intentions, the committee's legalistic draft of the new policy, riddled with jargon and lengthy stipulations, became difficult to understand or implement, rendering it less effective than intended, and leading to confusion.