as in defendants
law
someone who brings a legal action against another person or against whom a legal action is brought
Both litigants chose to represent themselves in court.
Related Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of litigants
Frustrated litigants may or may not be the best source to expound on the performance of guardianship judges.
—
Jc Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 22 Mar. 2026
Other litigants’ right to access to courts is at risk because execution litigation must take priority.
—Melanie Verdecia, Sun Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026
Once a complaint is filed, attorneys told us, litigants using AI often proceed to file a steady drip of new motions and other documents, prompting the professionals on the other side of the case to pour a huge number of hours into reading and responding to the outflow of material.
—Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 18 Mar. 2026
In this case, however, your expertise is needed to help a jury (or litigants) decide whether someone’s personal or professional behavior deviated from the norm in a way that would irreparably harm another person.
—Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
My leadership on the bench is guided by judicial ethics, the Constitution, and a commitment to impartiality, independence, and due process — principles that serve all litigants, regardless of political belief.
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
Councilors Tiffany Koyama Lane and Mitch Green personally offered to connect prospective litigants with the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon and the state attorney general’s office.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 7 Feb. 2026
Such a result would be nonsensical and a miscarriage of justice to the Bevins and other divorce litigants in Kentucky.
—Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were once prolific litigants and between them have sued Associated Newspapers, the publisher of , alone of four times.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025
Jc Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 22 Mar. 2026
Other litigants’ right to access to courts is at risk because execution litigation must take priority.
—Melanie Verdecia, Sun Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026
Once a complaint is filed, attorneys told us, litigants using AI often proceed to file a steady drip of new motions and other documents, prompting the professionals on the other side of the case to pour a huge number of hours into reading and responding to the outflow of material.
—Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 18 Mar. 2026
In this case, however, your expertise is needed to help a jury (or litigants) decide whether someone’s personal or professional behavior deviated from the norm in a way that would irreparably harm another person.
—Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
My leadership on the bench is guided by judicial ethics, the Constitution, and a commitment to impartiality, independence, and due process — principles that serve all litigants, regardless of political belief.
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
Councilors Tiffany Koyama Lane and Mitch Green personally offered to connect prospective litigants with the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon and the state attorney general’s office.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 7 Feb. 2026
Such a result would be nonsensical and a miscarriage of justice to the Bevins and other divorce litigants in Kentucky.
—Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were once prolific litigants and between them have sued Associated Newspapers, the publisher of , alone of four times.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for litigants
Noun
-
And Cipriani later amended his complaint adding Paramount, David and Larry Ellisons, RedBird Capital and Paramount’s board of directors as defendants.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Eight of the nine defendants were arrested on the same day FBI agents raided Pooh Shiesty’s family home near Memphis.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In 2018, some involved in O'Rourke's campaign told Eye on Politics reporter Jack Fink that there was little to no support from the state and national parties.—
Nathalie Marie Palacios,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The parties have the right to appeal.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The plaintiffs in Wednesday's lawsuit argued the order unconstitutionally intrudes on Congress and the states' power to regulate elections, since the Constitution doesn't give the president any direct authority over how federal elections are conducted.—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Board of Estimates approved $230,271 for five different injury claims against the city, though $455,271 total in settlements were recommended to be paid to plaintiffs by the city’s legal department.—
Chevall Pryce,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Litigants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/litigants. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
