Legal Definition of last antecedent rule
: a doctrine in the interpretation of statutes: qualifying words or phrases refer only to the last antecedent word or phrase unless the context or entire act clearly requires otherwise
— called also last antecedent doctrine
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“Last antecedent rule.” Merriam-Webster.com Legal Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/legal/last%20antecedent%20rule. Accessed 17 Aug. 2022.
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