letter of the law

letter of the law
n.
A strict, literal, word-for-word interpretation of laws and statutes. See also spirit of the law

The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. . 2008.


letter of the law
The strict and exact force of the language used in a statute, as distinguished from the spirit, general purpose, and policy of the statute.

Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.


letter of the law
The strict and exact force of the language used in a statute, as distinguished from the spirit, general purpose, and policy of the statute.

Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • letter of the law — If people interpret laws and regulations strictly, ignoring the ideas behind them, they follow the letter of the law …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • letter of the law —    If people interpret laws and regulations strictly, ignoring the ideas behind them, they follow the letter of the law.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • (the) letter of the law — the letter of the law phrase the exact words that are used in a law, rather than its general meaning Thesaurus: law, laws and parts of lawshyponym Main entry: letter * * * the ˌletter of the ˈlaw idiom (often disapproving) the exa …   Useful english dictionary

  • the letter of the law — FORMAL ► LAW the exact words of a law and not its more important general meaning: »The bank was operating within the letter of the law. Main Entry: ↑letter …   Financial and business terms

  • the letter of the law — The literal interpretation of the law • • • Main Entry: ↑letter …   Useful english dictionary

  • letter of the law — the dry law, the literal law, the law as interpreted in a literal and strict manner …   English contemporary dictionary

  • The Letter of the Law — See Letter and spirit of the law for the idiomatic expression. The Letter of the Law is a short story by P. G. Wodehouse, which first appeared in the United States in the February 1936 edition of Redbook , and in the United Kingdom in the April… …   Wikipedia

  • (the) letter of the law — formal the exact words of a law and not its more important general meaning. There is always the danger that a judge may follow the letter of the law rather than its spirit …   New idioms dictionary

  • letter of the law — noun The strict interpretation of the law or rules …   Wiktionary

  • letter of the law — Expression used to denote the exact, strict interpretation of a statute, ordinance, regulation, or law …   Black's law dictionary

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