lawsuit
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of lawsuit
Compare meaning
How does lawsuit compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A lawsuit is the result of a disagreement that ends up in court. A long-running feud between neighbors about a flock of chickens and a barking dog might eventually end up as a lawsuit. If someone files a lawsuit against you, you become a defendant, while they are the plaintiff. Lawsuits are always part of civil law, rather than criminal cases, involving something some kind of financial or personal loss. When you're embroiled in a lawsuit, you'll probably need to hire a lawyer. This legal term dates from the 17th century.
Vocabulary lists containing lawsuit
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Van Dyke had signed an agreement to “never divulge, publish, or reveal,” including through any conduct, what he knew about the operation to capture Maduro, according to the CFTC’s lawsuit against him.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026
Carano settled her lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm in 2025, but describes herself as being in a "very hurting place" in the years prior where she "lost herself".
From BBC • May 16, 2026
A separate lawsuit in Colorado accuses some of the biggest domestic producers of the same charge.
From Salon • May 15, 2026
Most legal experts considered the lawsuit baseless and believed that the settlement came under pressure to get the deal done.
From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026
Since Claudette was still a legal minor, one of her parents would have to file the lawsuit on her behalf.
From "Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice" by Phillip Hoose
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
