litigate

[lit-i-geyt]

verb (used with object)

litigated, litigating 

1. to make the subject of a lawsuit; contest at law.

2. Archaic.,  to dispute (a point, assertion, etc.).

verb (used without object)

litigated, litigating 

1. to carry on a lawsuit.

litigate

/ ˈlɪtɪˌɡeɪt /

verb

1. to bring or contest (a claim, action, etc) in a lawsuit

2. (intr) to engage in legal proceedings

Other Word Forms

• litigative adjective
• relitigate verb (used with object)
• unlitigated adjective
• unlitigating adjective
• litigator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of litigate¹

First recorded in 1605–15, litigate is from the Latin word lītigātus (past participle of lītigāre to go to law). See litigant, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of litigate¹

C17: from Latin lītigāre, from līt-, stem of līs lawsuit + agere to carry on

Example Sentences

Derek Muller, a Notre Dame law professor, looks askance at many of the cases that prosecutors have brought, suggesting the ballot box — rather than a courtroom — may be the better venue to litigate the matter.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Another proposal approved Thursday gives Tesla’s board the ability to grant Musk the shares he earned under a 2018 compensation package that is being litigated in Delaware.

Read more on MarketWatch

Another proposal would give Tesla’s board the ability to grant Musk the shares he earned under a 2018 compensation package that is being litigated in Delaware.

Read more on MarketWatch

When you’re working with really bright people, you can keep analyzing and litigating things, and that gets frustrating.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That case will determine whether her harassment and retaliation claims move forward to a jury, meaning the core of the dispute is still to be litigated next year.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• prosecute 

When To Use

What does litigate mean?

To litigate is to engage in a legal proceeding, such as a lawsuit. It can mean to bring a lawsuit or to contest one.The word especially refers to what lawyers do in such a proceeding. In fact, another name for a lawyer is litigator, especially a lawyer who specializes in civil cases. The related word litigant refers to a person engaged in a lawsuit.The process of engaging in a legal proceeding is called litigation. To be in litigation typically means to be engaged in a civil legal proceeding (as opposed to a criminal one, in which one is said to be on trial).Litigate can also be used in a somewhat figurative or general way meaning to intensely dispute or argue something, as if one were a lawyer in a courtroom setting, as in It’s just a minor issue—we don’t have to litigate it over and over again.  Example: They want to avoid having to litigate, so they’re going to try to get you to settle out of court.