litigation

[lit-i-gey-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or process of litigating.

   a matter that is still in litigation.

2. a lawsuit.

litigation

/ ˌlɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of bringing or contesting a legal action in court

2. a judicial proceeding or contest

Other Word Forms

• nonlitigation noun
• prelitigation noun
• relitigation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of litigation¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Late Latin lītigātiōn-, stem of lītigātiō “a dispute”; equivalent to litigate + -ion

Example Sentences

Damphousse’s office, in response to a query from Salon, said that it does not comment on active litigation.

From Salon

Jennifer Forkish, the LAPD’s communications director, said that while she could not comment on pending litigation, the department “fully recognizes the rights of the press to cover public spaces and police activity.”

From Los Angeles Times

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s spokesperson declined to comment on the pending litigation.

From Los Angeles Times

Edison announced in late July that it was creating a program to directly compensate Eaton fire victims to help avoid lengthy litigation.

From Los Angeles Times

Questioned about Mojica’s case in July, a Homeland Security spokesperson said they were unable to comment on cases “under active litigation.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• action 
• case 
• dispute 
• lawsuit 
• process 
• prosecution 
• suit 
• trial 

When To Use

What does litigation mean?

Litigation is the process of engaging in a legal proceeding, such as a lawsuit.The word litigation can also mean a lawsuit.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). The verb litigate means engage in a legal proceeding. It can mean to bring a lawsuit or to contest one. A litigator is a lawyer, especially one who specializes in civil cases. A litigant is a person engaged in a lawsuit.Example: Their goal is to avoid litigation, so they’re going to try to get you to settle out of court.