|lēgə|listik, -tēk sometimes |lig- adjective
: characterized by legalism
the American tendency to approach foreign policy in moralistic and legalistic fashion — W.G.Carleton
a legalistic religion
no amount of legalistic argument can becloud this issue — F.D.Roosevelt
• le·gal·is·ti·cal·ly -tə̇k(ə)lē, -tēk-, -li adverb