lawsuit

noun

law·​suit ˈlȯ-ˌsüt How to pronounce lawsuit (audio)
Synonyms of lawsuitnext
: a suit in law : a case before a court

Examples of lawsuit in a Sentence

the homeowner filed a lawsuit against the moving company that was refusing to be held responsible for damaging her furniture
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Many more have submitted their accounts in civil rights lawsuits aimed at slowing the operations. Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026 At the end of last year, a group of preservationists filed a similar lawsuit seeking to prevent the administration from demolishing the East Wing of the White House in order to build a ballroom — a project estimated to cost $400 million. Safiyah Riddle, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026 The men, who denied any wrongdoing, filed retaliatory defamation lawsuits—turning their accusers’ accounts over to the court of public opinion. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026 In a federal lawsuit, filed against Nanos, Capt. Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lawsuit

Word History

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lawsuit was in 1583

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lawsuit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lawsuit. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

lawsuit

noun
law·​suit ˈlȯ-ˌsüt How to pronounce lawsuit (audio)
: a suit in law : a case before a court

Legal Definition

lawsuit

noun
law·​suit
: an action brought in a court for the purpose of seeking relief from or remedy for an alleged wrong : suit

More from Merriam-Webster on lawsuit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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