Legal Definitions - literal interpretation

Definition: Literal interpretation is the act of interpreting a written document, such as a law or contract, based solely on the literal words used in the document.

For example, if a contract states that a payment is due on the 15th of each month, a literal interpretation would mean that the payment must be made on the 15th of each month, without any leeway for a few days before or after.

Literal interpretation is often contrasted with liberal interpretation, which takes into account the purpose and spirit of the document, rather than just the literal words.

It is important to note that literal interpretation is not always the best approach, as it can lead to absurd or unintended results. In some cases, a more flexible interpretation may be necessary to achieve the intended outcome.