ejusdem

Example:In the contract, ejusdem generis applies to the clause that refers to vehicles, implying that it is limited to cars, trucks, and motorcycles, not boats or airplanes.

Definition:Latin for 'of the same kind or class,' it means that a general term following particular examples should be interpreted as limited to the examples preceding it.

Example:The judge ruled that the ejusdem interpretation applied to the term 'personal property' in the will, meaning that it refers only to items previously listed, not to rumors or debts.

Definition:A legal principle that says when specific examples come after a general term, the general term is usually limited to those specific examples.