Legal Definitions - comparative interpretation

Definition: Comparative interpretation is a method of understanding the meaning of something, such as a law or legal document, by comparing different parts of it to each other and to other similar documents.

For example, if a new law is passed about taxes, a comparative interpretation would involve looking at how different sections of the law relate to each other and how they compare to similar tax laws in other countries or states. This can help lawyers and judges understand the intended meaning of the law and how it should be applied in different situations.

Comparative interpretation is just one of many methods of interpretation, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Other methods include grammatical interpretation, which focuses on the literal meaning of the words used, and liberal interpretation, which tries to understand the author's intended meaning even if it is not explicitly stated.