litigate

American  

[lit-i-geyt] / ˈlɪt ɪˌgeɪt /

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.).

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verb (used without object)

litigated, litigating

1. to carry on a lawsuit.

litigate British  

/ ˈlɪtɪˌɡeɪt /

verb

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

2. (intr) to engage in legal proceedings

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

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, -ate ¹

Related Words

• prosecute