lawsuit

American  

[law-soot] / ˈlɔˌsut /

noun

1. a case in a court of law involving a claim, complaint, etc., by one party against another; suit at law.

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lawsuit British  

/ -ˌsjuːt, ˈlɔːˌsuːt /

noun

1. a proceeding in a court of law brought by one party against another, esp a civil action

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Etymology

Origin of lawsuit

First recorded in 1615–25; law ¹ + suit

Compare meaning

How does lawsuit compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• litigation vs. lawsuit

Example Sentences

The lawsuit alleges that Acacio performed an ultrasound on at least one patient after his license was suspended.

From Los Angeles Times

Attorneys for “Mirrors” and “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” star Timberlake, 45, on Monday filed a lawsuit against the Village of Sag Harbor, the Sag Harbor Police Department and its chief of police.

From Los Angeles Times

After years of ticketing complaints and frustrations, the trial for the Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation officially is underway.

From Los Angeles Times

The MTA’s lawsuit, filed in February 2025, challenged the federal government’s attempt to rescind its prior approval for the tolling system.

From The Wall Street Journal

A fifth sibling, Frank Cascio, is not a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accusation
• action
• argument
• bill
• case
• claim
• dispute
• impeachment
• indictment
• litigation
• prosecution
• suit
• trial