Legal Definitions - canons of construction

Definition: Canons of construction are a set of guidelines or principles used to interpret legal documents, such as statutes. These guidelines help lawyers and judges understand the meaning of the text and apply it to specific cases.

For example, one canon of construction is contra proferentem, which means that any ambiguity in a contract should be interpreted against the party who drafted it. Another canon is ejusdem generis, which means that when a list of specific items is followed by a more general term, the general term should be interpreted to include only items of the same type as those listed.

Canons of construction are not strict rules, but rather principles that guide interpretation. They help ensure that legal documents are interpreted consistently and fairly.

For instance, if a contract includes a clause that is unclear or ambiguous, the canon of construction contra proferentem would suggest that the clause should be interpreted against the party who wrote it. This helps prevent one party from taking advantage of the other by using unclear language in the contract.