judicial activism

noun

The act of replacing an impartial interpretation of existing law with the judge's personal feelings about what the law should be.

Similar
broad interpretation
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Meanings

nounjudicial activism (uncountable)
  1. derogatoryoftenuncountablelawThe act of replacing an impartial interpretation of existing law with the judge's personal feelings about what the law should be.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounan interpretation of the U.S. constitution holding that the spirit of the times and the needs of the nation can legitimately influence judicial decisions (particularly decisions of the Supreme Court)

Similar
broad interpretation
Broader
interpretationinterpretingrendition

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

judicial activism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/judicial%20activism

MLA

“judicial activism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/judicial%20activism. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “judicial activism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/judicial%20activism.

Source: judicial activism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.