noun
- Plural of originalism: a theory of constitutional interpretation holding that the Constitution should be understood according to its original public meaning at the time of ratification.
- Plural of originalism: distinctive or novel ideas, practices, or artistic approaches that emphasize authenticity or originality.
Usage: legal/political; often used in academic and judicial contexts
Usage: general usage; less common than the legal sense
Examples
- The debate between originalisms and living constitutionalism has shaped modern Supreme Court jurisprudence.
- Legal scholars continue to discuss various forms of originalisms in constitutional law.
- The judge's opinion reflected principles of originalism in interpreting the statute.
- Different originalisms exist, including semantic originalism and public meaning originalism.
- Critics argue that originalisms cannot account for evolving social values.