The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Legalism \Le"gal*ism\ (l[=e]"gal*[i^]z'm), n. Strictness, or the doctrine of strictness, in conforming to law. [1913 Webster]WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
legalism n 1: strict conformity to the letter of the law rather than its spirit