litigation

noun

lit·​i·​ga·​tion ˌli-tə-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce litigation (audio)
plural litigations
Synonyms of litigationnext
: the act, process, or practice of settling a dispute in a court of law : the act or process of litigating
an issue that has been in litigation for years
an attorney who specializes in the litigation of property disputes
The American Judicial System generally limits the filing of lawsuits to individuals with a personal stake in the litigation, but there are instances when litigants cannot themselves prosecute an action.Jonathan Mahler
also : a legal action or proceeding (such as a lawsuit)
"You can't realize how much it costs to run one of these litigations. To get a battery of lawyers into a courtroom and do all the planning … and so on costs $500,000." Gordon Gould

Examples of litigation in a Sentence

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.
Rebecca and Tommy advocate for litigation, but Cami’s wildcatting instincts take over. Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026 County Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins did not respond to a request for comment on the litigation. Tracey McManus, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026 Kitchen, according to court records, persuaded Uhlfelder to bring on a third lawyer, Marie Mattox, who had expertise in government litigation. Dan Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2026 The Republican crusade against Arabella has produced legislation, congressional investigations, litigation, and even an investigation from the district’s attorney general. Robert Schmad, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for litigation

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of litigation was in 1612

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Cite this Entry

“Litigation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/litigation. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.

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