Legal Definitions - literal construction

Definition: Literal construction refers to an interpretation of a written document, such as a law or contract, that considers only the literal words used in the document.

For example, if a law states that "no vehicles are allowed in the park," a literal construction would mean that no type of vehicle, including bicycles or skateboards, would be allowed in the park.

Literal construction is often contrasted with liberal construction, which takes into account the purpose and spirit of the document in addition to the literal words used.

Overall, literal construction is a strict approach to interpreting written documents that focuses solely on the words used, rather than the intent or purpose behind them.