English edit

Etymology edit

pseudo- +‎ legal

Adjective edit

pseudolegal (not comparable)

  1. Having a superficial appearance of according with the legal profession but in reality lacking competence in it or flouting its values.
    • 1988, Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern American Usage:
      These phrases have been criticized as jargonistic and pompous. [] They appear frequently in legal and pseudolegal writing. They can usually be improved.[1]
    • 2012, Brent Wittmeier, Edmonton Journal, September 27, 2012 (archived)
      In a decision issued in response to a June 8, 2012 divorce case involving a self-declared “freeman on the land,” Court of Queen’s Bench Associate Chief Justice John Rooke analyzes what he calls “organized pseudolegal commercial argument” or OPCA litigants.

Related terms edit

Translations edit

References edit

  1. ^ Garner, Bryan A. (2009). Garner’s Modern American Usage, third edition. Oxford University Press; 2009; headword "affirmative".