1. The act or process of interpreting a statute.
2. Collectively, the principles developed by courts for interpreting statutes.
— Also termed statutory interpretation. See CONSTRUCTION(2). [Cases: Statutes 174–247. C.J.S. Statutes §§ 306–387.]
“[T]here is not, and probably never can be, anything meriting the description of a coherent body of case-law on statutory interpretation as a whole as distinct from the interpretation of a particular statute.” Rupert Cross, Statutory Interpretation 39 (1976).