noscitur a sociis

Noscitur a sociis is a rule of construction of contracts which assist resolution of ambiguity. The meaning of a word may be ascertained by the context within which it appears.

Usage: The claimant argued that the term 'property' in the contract did not include copyright on the basis of noscitur a sociis.

Related Words: rules of construction; ejusdem generis; golden rule; literal rule; statutory interpretation; canon of construction; expressio unius; expressum facit cessare tacitum; contra proferentem.