textualism noun3 •Strict adherence to a text, especially to the Bible. •A formalist legal theory that interprets based on the ordinary meaning of the legal text.And this is the upshot of textualism: textualists do not want judges to make the law. This, at least, is the official doctrine, and it sounds very democratic. — 2007 •Textual criticism, especially that of the Bible. formstextualisms
