principle of legality

noun

The principle that the courts should not interpret any statute as curtailing or abrogating a common law right, freedom, or principle, unless the legislative body that made that statute clearly communicated the intention to impose such a restriction.

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Meanings

noun
  1. The principle that the courts should not interpret any statute as curtailing or abrogating a common law right, freedom, or principle, unless the legislative body that made that statute clearly communicated the intention to impose such a restriction.

Translations

Spanish principio de legalidad
  • principio de legalidadTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

principle of legality. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/principle%20of%20legality

MLA

“principle of legality.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/principle%20of%20legality. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “principle of legality,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/principle%20of%20legality.

Source: principle of legality on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.