pith and substance

noun

The content or subject matter, the leading feature or true nature and character of a law.

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Meanings

nounpith and substance (uncountable)
  1. CanadauncountablelawThe content or subject matter, the leading feature or true nature and character of a law.

    In determining the “pith and substance” of the legislation, ‘it is necessary to identify the dominant or most important characteristic of the challenged law’.

    c. 1985, Peter Hogg, Constitutional Law of Canada, 2nd edition, page 313
Cite this entry
APA

pith and substance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pith%20and%20substance

MLA

“pith and substance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pith%20and%20substance. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pith and substance,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pith%20and%20substance.

Source: pith and substance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.