litigate

[lit-i-geyt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR litigate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), lit·i·gat·ed, lit·i·gat·ing.

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

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

verb (used without object), lit·i·gat·ed, lit·i·gat·ing.

to carry on a lawsuit.

Origin of litigate

First recorded in 1605–15, litigate is from the Latin word lītigātus (past participle of lītigāre to go to law). See litigant, -ate¹

Related formslit·i·ga·tive, adjectivere·lit·i·gate, verb (used with object), re·lit·i·gat·ed, re·lit·i·gat·ing.un·lit·i·gat·ed, adjectiveun·lit·i·gat·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for litigate

prosecute, sue, appeal, contest, dispute

Examples from the Web for litigate

Contemporary Examples of litigate

That it took 12 years to litigate without one does no credit to the legal system.
The Myth of the Central Park Five
Edward Conlon
October 19, 2014
Our super-rich can litigate and settle their way out of charges we peons could never escape.
America’s Prison System: Not Faring Well Either
James Poulos
April 5, 2014

Historical Examples of litigate

How often, Mr. Lovelace, must I repeat, that I will not litigate with my father?
Clarissa, Volume 3 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
He knew it, I told him, to be my resolution not to litigate with my father.
Clarissa, Volume 3 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
They cannot come into court to litigate their claims, nor can a court decide on them.
The Life of John Marshall (Volume 2 of 4)
Albert J. Beveridge
They are now protected by the treaty, but we will litigate them out of all their grants.
The Little Lady of Lagunitas
Richard Henry Savage
I did not know but that you had found something besides to litigate.
Lemorne Versus Huell
Elizabeth Drew Stoddard

British Dictionary definitions for litigate

litigate

verb

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

(intr) to engage in legal proceedings

Derived Formslitigator, noun

Word Origin for litigate

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for litigate

1610s, from Middle French litigier and directly from Latin litigatus, past participle of litigare "to dispute, carry on a suit" (see litigation). Related: Litigated; litigating.