objective meaning. The meaning that would be attributed to an unambiguous document (or portion of a document) by a disinterested reasonable person who is familiar with the surrounding circumstances. • A party to a contract is often held to its objective meaning, which it is considered to have had reason to know, even if the party subjectively understood or intended something else. [Cases: Contracts 147(1). C.J.S. Contracts § 308; Parent and Child § 178.]
plain meaning. The meaning attributed to a document (usu. by a court) by giving the words their ordinary sense, without referring to extrinsic indications of the author’s intent.
— Also termed ordinary meaning. See PLAIN-MEANING RULEE. [Cases: Contracts 152. C.J.S. Contracts §§ 307, 318–322, 327, 331.]
subjective meaning. The meaning that a party to a legal document attributes to it when the document is written, executed, or otherwise adopted. [Cases: Contracts 170(1). C.J.S. Contracts §§ 338–340.]
