class action

American  

noun

1. a legal proceeding in which persons representing interests common to a large group participate as representatives of the group or class.

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class action British  

noun

1. law a legal action undertaken by one or more people representing the interests of a large group of people with the same grievance

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Other Word Forms

• class-action adjective

Etymology

Origin of class action

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Attorneys have also filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of all the women involved in the incident, which is scheduled to go to mediation in May, he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026

A class action lawsuit accuses Super Micro Computer of securities fraud for undisclosed server sales to China.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

The class action lawsuit was made on behalf of passengers whose flights were cancelled by the carrier between 2020 and 2022 and received travel credits instead of cash.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

Qantas Airways agreed to pay US$74.3 million to settle a class action over not offering cash refunds for Covid-19 canceled flights.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

When this book went to press, they were contemplating class action.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot