Ejusdem generis
Ejusdem generis: Latin for "of the same kind." The canon that "where general words follow specific words in a statutory enumeration, the general words are [usually] construed to embrace only objects similar in nature to those objects enumerated by the preceding specific words" (Yates v. United States, 574 U.S. 528, 545 (2015) (plurality opinion)).
What ejusdem generis means
Put simply, ejusdem generis is part of the working vocabulary of a civil case. The short definition above covers the usual meaning. Still, a specific rule, statute or contract can give it a narrower meaning. For that reason, check how it is used in your own documents.
Where ejusdem generis comes up
The term is used across many kinds of cases. For example, you may see it in pleadings, motions and court orders. To see it in context, browse the motions and procedures library or the Learn the Law topics.
How to research the term
Start with the primary source. For example, if ejusdem generis appears in a federal rule, read the rule itself and its official notes. After that, check your court’s local rules and any standing orders from the judge. In addition, search recent decisions from your own state or federal district. They show how courts read ejusdem generis in practice. Because state rules often differ, our state procedures guide links to each state’s official rules. Above all, make sure the version you read is still in force.
You can read the current federal court rules online for free.
Related legal terms
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- Driver's license: a state-issued license that permits a person to drive a motor vehicle on public roads. Every state requires one. Courts have long upheld state licensing and registration laws for drivers, for example in Hendrick v. Maryland, 235 U.S. 610 (1915).
- Due process: the constitutional guarantee that the government will not deprive a person of life, liberty or property without fair procedures. It appears in the Fifth Amendment for the federal government and the Fourteenth Amendment for the states. At a minimum, it usually requires notice and an opportunity to be heard.
- Duty: a legal obligation to act, or not act, in a certain way.
Why precise terms matter
Courts read legal terms closely. As a result, knowing the exact meaning of a word helps you follow orders, rules and filings. Each glossary entry on Lawtopolis is short on purpose and links to the pages where the term is used.
Sources
Sources last reviewed: 2026-10-24
Lawtopolis provides legal information and education, not legal advice. Using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and court rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time; verify every authority against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction about your situation.