Noscitur a Sociis definition
Noscitur a Sociis is a Latin phrase which means that meaning of a word may be known from accompanying words.
Noscitur a Sociis means that a word “‘is known by its
Noscitur a Sociis means that a word “‘is known by its associates.’” (People v. Prunty (2015) 62 Cal.4th 59, 73.) Thus, if a word’s meaning in a statute or contract is unclear, its definition should be determined by the words immediately surrounding it. When the time comes to argue this interpretive principle to the Court of Appeal, one of my partners doesn’t state the maxim in Latin. Rather, he will refer to “that Latin phrase that I can’t pronounce about a word being known by its associates.” Usually that leads to a trio of nodding judicial heads, as they understand the legal principle even though they may not remember how to pronounce the phrase in Latin.