Ejusdem Generis Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Ejusdem Generis.

Ejusdem Generis (eh-youse-dem generous) - Latin phrase, used as an adjective or verb in legal context

A Latin term often used in legal interpretations, which translates to "of the same kind." Ejusdem Generis refers to the principle where a law mentions specific classes or types of individuals or things, followed by a more general term. According to this principle, the general term should be understood to only include items of the same kind as the speficic items mentioned earlier. For example, if a law refers to "cars, bicycles, scooters, and other conveyances," the term "other conveyances" would not include something like an airplane, because the specified items (cars, bikes, scooters) are all forms of ground-based transportation.