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LSDefine

Simple English definitions for legal terms

plain meaning

Read a random definition: admission to sufficient facts

A quick definition of plain meaning:

Plain meaning refers to the straightforward and obvious interpretation of words or statements, without considering any hidden or implied meanings. It is the meaning that a reasonable person would understand from a written or spoken communication. This is important in legal contexts, where contracts and other documents are interpreted based on their plain meaning, rather than the subjective understanding of the parties involved. Essentially, plain meaning is what something says on the surface, without any need for further interpretation or analysis.

A more thorough explanation:

Definition: Plain meaning refers to the sense of anything, especially words, that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed by a written or oral statement or other communicative act. It includes a mistaken but reasonable understanding of a communication and is often held to its objective meaning, which is considered to have had reason to know, even if the party subjectively understood or intended something else. Plain meaning is attributed to a document by giving the words their ordinary sense, without referring to extrinsic indications of the author's intent.

  • If a contract states that a payment is due on the 1st of the month, the plain meaning is that the payment is due on the first day of each month.
  • If a law states that it is illegal to "drive a vehicle on a sidewalk," the plain meaning is that it is illegal to operate a vehicle on a pedestrian walkway.

These examples illustrate how plain meaning is determined by the ordinary sense of the words used in a document or communication, without considering any additional context or intent. Even if a party subjectively understood or intended something else, the plain meaning of the words used will be held to its objective meaning.

plain-language movement | plain-meaning rule

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haha suckers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
20:38
prolly have a lil family and hobbies what loosers
hahah losers like what? you travel? have a life? not me, i'm reading every line of a contract while my seniors go play golf and enjoy like hahaha suckers
20:40
yea inverse perspective, what is fun is not fun and what is not fun is fun
20:40
you get it.
i wanna be able to travel a ton too
my ex just posted a harry potter related joke i think i dodged a bullet
20:41
Im only going to law school to recruit members for the revolution
20:41
nice where u wanna go? yea bullet dodged fr
can we join even if we're not at ur school
20:44
yeah but youd be in a different chapter
20:44
are we revolting against people who do not use their signal whilst driving?
20:44
We’re revolting against the man, man
20:45
Power does not flow from the sleeve of a judges robe to paraphrase
fuck yeah i'm down
MrThickRopes
20:46
uhhh
MrThickRopes
20:46
Yeeeeaahh
MrThickRopes
20:46
PUT DA BEAT ON BRUH
20:48
Aight yall can join but I call dibs on being assassinated
MrThickRopes
20:49
Unc unc unc unc unc
MrThickRopes
20:49
Up in da club
MrThickRopes
20:49
Up in da club uns uns uns uns uns uns
the unction
20:55
just got a DUI while drinkin an NA beer in my car
20:55
someone help is some1 a hoya lowya here?!
MrThickRopes
21:03
Yoooo wtf
21:03
jk ropes but I do got ops fr
MrThickRopes
21:12
Me too bruh they praying on my downfall fr
21:19
bruh i got ppl tryna make my head a brain smoothie
21:19
serve me with some margarita mix and agave sweetener and summ
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