litigator

American  

[lit-i-gey-ter] / ˈlɪt ɪˌgeɪ tər /

noun

1. a courtroom lawyer.

2. a litigant.

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Usage

What does litigator mean? A litigator is a lawyer, especially one who specializes in civil cases.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 litigators do in such a proceeding.Less commonly, litigator can refer to a person engaged in a lawsuit. However, a more common word for this is litigant.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).Example: He was a prominent litigator in the ’80s before he became a prosecutor.

Etymology

Origin of litigator

First recorded in 1900–05; litigate ( def. ) + -or ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

In arguing his case for punitive damages, Kaley's attorney Mark Lanier - a folksy Texas litigator - had shown the jury a jar of M&Ms.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Yes, replied John P. Coale, a veteran litigator who represented Donald Trump in lawsuits against Meta and other social-media platforms.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025

Solicitor General Theodore Olson and litigator David Boies, a liberal who squared off against Olson in the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2025

Securities litigator Darren Robbins contends that in the hype-driven AI era, less transparency is risky.

From Barron's • Nov. 26, 2025

Or that Louis V. Gerstner, the former IBM chief executive, hired a Boston litigator to help him push through a plan for a large new house on his $11 million waterfront plot?

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times