litigation

[ lit-i-gey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of litigating:

   a matter that is still in litigation.

2. a lawsuit.

litigation

/ ˌlɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of bringing or contesting a legal action in court
2. a judicial proceeding or contest

Other Words From

• nonlit·i·gation noun
• prelit·i·gation noun
• relit·i·gation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of litigation¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Late Latin lītigātiōn-, stem of lītigātiō “a dispute”; equivalent to litigate + -ion

Example Sentences

KP Law, representing the claimants, has begun the process of litigation, which is expected to start at the beginning of 2025.

From BBC

The FBI told the Associated Press that it was its “standard practice” not to comment on litigation.

From BBC

X didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, and the secretary of state’s office said the agency doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

From Los Angeles Times

They added: "It is common practice, and indeed encouraged in litigation, to seek to settle claims outside court where both parties agree without the cost of a trial."

From BBC

The city agreed in June to settle the lawsuit and pay $300,000 in legal fees, but litigation by the affected officers is ongoing.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• action
• case
• dispute
• lawsuit
• process
• prosecution
• suit
• trial

More About Litigation

What does litigation mean?

Litigation is the process of engaging in a legal proceeding, such as a lawsuit.

The word litigation can also mean a lawsuit.

To be in litigation typically means to be engaged in a civil legal proceeding (as opposed to a criminal one, in which one is said to be on trial). The verb litigate means engage in a legal proceeding. It can mean to bring a lawsuit or to contest one. A litigator is a lawyer, especially one who specializes in civil cases. A litigant is a person engaged in a lawsuit.

Example: Their goal is to avoid litigation, so they’re going to try to get you to settle out of court.

Where does litigation come from?

The first records of the word litigation come from the 1560s. It comes from the Late Latin lītigātiōn-, meaning “a dispute.” It ultimately derives from the Latin verb lītigāre, meaning “to go to law,” from līt- (a stem of līs, meaning “lawsuit”) and agere, “to carry on.”

Litigation always involves a dispute, often in the form of a lawsuit that carries on and on. This means that litigation is often expensive and time-consuming (which might be good for the litigators but not so much for their clients). For this reason, people often try to avoid litigation when they’re on the wrong end of a lawsuit. Some choose to go through arbitration, which is a process in which a third party helps to settle the dispute.

Those who do engage in litigation and present their cases in court can still agree to settle before a decision is reached by the court—meaning they agree to end litigation and come to a deal on their own (though often still with the help of the litigators).

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to litigation?

• litigate (verb)

What are some synonyms for litigation?

• lawsuit
• legal proceeding

What are some words that share a root or word element with litigation? 

• litigator
• litigant

What are some words that often get used in discussing litigation?

 

• sue
• lawyer
• attorney
• client
• case
• dispute
• process
• arbitration
• mediation

How is litigation used in real life?

The word litigation is always used in a legal context, most often in reference to a lawsuit.

One of the most egregious examples of political corruption we’ve seen in a good while— an attempt by Big Oil to evade responsibility by purchasing a new law that would’ve nullified litigation right before trial.

Time wasn’t what they ran out of. They ran out of options. https://t.co/zUJtNUueq3

— Lamar White, Jr. (@LamarWhiteJr) May 29, 2020

The executive board of the Major League Baseball Players Association rejected a proposed deal with team owners for a 60-game season, which could lead to a lengthy and costly litigation if MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred orders a start to the baseball season. https://t.co/fvpWWPiDXe

— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) June 22, 2020

Sometimes it’s cheaper than prolonging the litigation process. https://t.co/PXe9qATat5

— Jonathan Morris (@JZMorrisEsq) December 29, 2019

 

 

Try using litigation!

True or False? 

Litigation usually refers to a criminal trial.