litigate

American  

[lit-i-geyt] / ˈlɪt ɪˌgeɪt /

verb (used with object)

litigated, litigating

1. to make the subject of a lawsuit; contest at law.

2. Archaic. to dispute (a point, assertion, etc.).

---

verb (used without object)

litigated, litigating

1. to carry on a lawsuit.

litigate British  

/ ˈlɪtɪˌɡeɪt /

verb

1. to bring or contest (a claim, action, etc) in a lawsuit

2. (intr) to engage in legal proceedings

---

Usage

What does litigate mean? To litigate is to engage in a legal proceeding, such as a lawsuit. It can mean to bring a lawsuit or to contest one.The word especially refers to what lawyers do in such a proceeding. In fact, another name for a lawyer is litigator, especially a lawyer who specializes in civil cases. The related word litigant refers to a person engaged in a lawsuit.The process of engaging in a legal proceeding is called litigation. 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).Litigate can also be used in a somewhat figurative or general way meaning to intensely dispute or argue something, as if one were a lawyer in a courtroom setting, as in It’s just a minor issue—we don’t have to litigate it over and over again.  Example: They want to avoid having to litigate, so they’re going to try to get you to settle out of court.

Other Word Forms

• litigative adjective
• litigator noun
• relitigate verb (used with object)
• unlitigated adjective
• unlitigating adjective

Etymology

Origin of litigate

First recorded in 1605–15, litigate is from the Latin word lītigātus (past participle of lītigāre to go to law). See litigant, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Too bad for him that the arguments we can expect his lawyers to make have already been litigated, and rejected, by federal courts.

From The Wall Street Journal

The regulator’s inaction looks likely to continue as lawsuits over sports event contracts are litigated across the country, seemingly on a path to the Supreme Court.

From Barron's

“These are extraordinarily complex cases and litigating these cases effectively requires resources,” said an outside attorney representing Slater in a statement, responding to questions from The Times.

From Los Angeles Times

“This was not something we would usually litigate,” one lawyer on the team said in an interview.

From Salon

Another proposal approved Thursday gives Tesla’s board the ability to grant Musk the shares he earned under a 2018 compensation package that is being litigated in Delaware.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• prosecute