Ejusdem Generis in United Kingdom

Ejusdem Generis and the Golden Rule in the context of Statutory Interpretation

The golden rule is a modification of the literal rule and is used when the literal interpretation of words would lead to a ‘manifest absurdity’

The ejusdem generis rule can be applied where general words following specific words set out in a list are found. The question arises as to whether the specific words set out in the list affect in any way the correct interpretation to be placed upon the general words – do they limit the general words in some way? The rule provides that the general words are limited in meaning to the same kinds of things as mentioned in the specific words appearing in the list. For example if a statute applied to tigers, lions, leopards and other animals it could be assumed that a panther would be included as another animal but not a cow. There must be at least two specific words in a list before the general word or phrase, for this rule to operate.

In Powell v Kempton Park Racecourse (1899), the Betting Act 1853 made it an offence to keep a house, office, room or other place for the purposes of betting. The defendant had been using what was known as ‘Tattersall’s ring’ for the purposes of betting. Tattersall’s ring was an outside area and the House of Lords had to decide if the statute applied to an outside area. The court found that the general words ‘other place’ should be interpreted as inside or an indoor place because the other words in the list were all references to places inside and, as he had been operating outdoors, the defendant was found not guilty.

Definition of Ejusdem Generis

This is one of the rules of language used by judges when determining the correct meaning of words.