Legal Definitions - meaning

In legal contexts, the term "meaning" refers to the sense or interpretation of words, statements, or actions. It's about what is communicated or intended to be communicated. Understanding "meaning" is crucial because it determines how agreements are enforced, laws are applied, and responsibilities are assigned.

• Objective Meaning

  The objective meaning is the interpretation of a document or statement that a reasonable, unbiased person, familiar with the surrounding circumstances, would attribute to it. This understanding is independent of what any specific party might have privately thought or intended. In contract law, parties are often held to the objective meaning of their agreements, even if their personal, subjective understanding was different.

  • Example 1: A lease agreement for an apartment states, "Rent is due on the first day of each month." The tenant *subjectively* believed this meant they had until the end of the first day to pay. However, the objective meaning for a reasonable person is that the payment must be received by the landlord on or before the first day. The tenant would likely be held to this objective understanding.
  • Example 2: A company's employee handbook includes a clause stating, "Employees must report all workplace injuries immediately." An employee suffers a minor sprain but *subjectively* decides to wait a few days to see if it improves before reporting it. The objective meaning of "immediately" to a reasonable person is without delay, as soon as practically possible after the injury occurs. The company would expect the employee to adhere to this objective interpretation.
• Plain Meaning (also known as Ordinary Meaning)

  The plain meaning is the interpretation of a document (often a contract or statute) based on the common, everyday understanding of its words, without considering any outside information about what the author might have intended. Courts frequently apply the plain meaning rule, assuming that the words themselves reflect the intent, unless they are ambiguous.

  • Example 1: A city ordinance prohibits "parking vehicles on the sidewalk." A person parks their motorcycle on the sidewalk, arguing that "vehicles" only refers to cars. However, the plain meaning of "vehicle" in ordinary language includes motorcycles, as they are a means of transport. A court would likely interpret the ordinance based on this common understanding.
  • Example 2: A will states, "I leave my entire collection of antique clocks to my nephew." The nephew later claims he should also receive the antique watches the deceased owned. However, the plain meaning of "clocks" refers specifically to timepieces typically found on walls or mantels, not smaller, wearable items like watches. The court would likely uphold this ordinary interpretation.
• Subjective Meaning

  The subjective meaning is the specific interpretation or understanding that a particular person or party had in mind when they created, signed, or otherwise engaged with a legal document or statement. While important for understanding individual intent, it often takes a secondary role to objective or plain meaning in legal disputes, especially in contract law.

  • Example 1: During a negotiation, one business owner says to another, "We'll need to finalize the details of this partnership by the end of the quarter." The first owner's subjective meaning was that they would have a preliminary agreement by then, not a fully executed contract. However, the other owner *subjectively* understood it to mean a complete, binding contract.
  • Example 2: A homeowner hires a painter and tells them, "Make sure the trim is a light color." The homeowner's subjective meaning was a very pale gray. The painter, however, *subjectively* understood "light color" to mean a pale yellow, and proceeded with that choice. This difference in subjective meaning could lead to a dispute.