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

By early 2026, the company faced multiple class action lawsuits accusing it of misleading investors.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

In a settlement filed Tuesday in California federal court, Apple did not admit any wrongdoing, but agreed to a deal that will resolve claims in a large consolidated class action lawsuit filed last year.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

Arbitration can keep plaintiffs from banding together into a class action, and in that way attracting a lawyer to take on their case for a large enough contingent fee.

From Slate • Apr. 27, 2026

The company also faces a class action in Australia, as well as a campaign to organize Tesla owners in Europe who paid for FSD but never got it because of regulatory restrictions and technology updates.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

Instead, at the end of 2002, Household settled a class action suit out of court and agreed to pay a $484 million fine distributed to twelve states.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis