constructionism

English

Etymology

From construction +‎ -ism.

Noun

constructionism (countable and uncountable, plural constructionisms)

1. (law) A strict interpretation of the actual words and phrases used in law, rather than any underlying intent.
2. (social sciences) The idea that people learn about, or perceive the world by constructing mental models.
   • 1997, Derek Edwards, Discourse and Cognition, page 51:

     But is it one constructionism in many guises, or a variety of quite different constructionisms, or merely old issues dressed up in new jargon,

   • 2018, Nicole Seymour, Bad Environmentalism, page 134:

     The futility of dismissing social constructionism in favor of some "real," authentic nature outside the social and linguistic.

Derived terms

• loose constructionism
• social constructionism
• strict constructionism

Related terms

• constructionist
• constructivism

See also

• originalism
• textualism

Anagrams

• misconstruction