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.
And the influential tort reform group Texans For Lawsuit Reform PAC added $550,000.
From Salon • Feb. 3, 2026
The website was published on Saturday, and is called Lawsuit Info.
From BBC • Feb. 2, 2025
Lawsuit alleges Apple monitors employees’ personal iCloud accounts and illegally limits them from discussing their wages and working conditions.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 3, 2024
It filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit under California’s Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation statute, or anti-SLAPP.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 29, 2023
Nor in this state was the Lawsuit by any means ended,—as we shall wearisomely see, in times long following that.
From History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 03 by Carlyle, Thomas
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.
