lawsuit
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
Filed on behalf of three drivers last week, the proposed class-action lawsuit accuses roughly a dozen companies and their subsidiaries — including Walmart and 7-Eleven — of using algorithmic software to fix prices.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026
But the court ruled that Exxon Mobil could bring its claims regardless of the FSIA, treating the 1996 act as providing an independent pathway for a lawsuit.
From Slate • Jul. 1, 2026
These included $16m from a lawsuit against ABC, $16m from CBS Broadcasting and CBS Interactive, $24.5m from Meta, $22m from YouTube and $8m from X.
From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026
Kalibrate’s program, according to the lawsuit, encourages gas stations to upload private price data.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026
In addition to serving as a plaintiff in the lawsuit against state officials, she gave a statement to police to support the case against the Mosses.’”
From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
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.
