litigate
verb
lit·i·gate
ˈli-tə-ˌgāt 
litigated; litigating
: to carry on a legal contest by judicial (see judicial sense 1a) process
only states can litigate before this court—
R. H. Heindel
R. H. HeindelExamples of litigate in a Sentence
They agree to litigate all disputes in this court.
The company's unwillingness to make a deal increased her desire to litigate.
Recent Examples on the Web
Some have been moved to federal court, where Boeing argued that the case needed to be litigated in South Korea.
—New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Because of that mistake, and because litigating this case in the Northern District of California would serve the interests of litigation, convenience, and efficiency, the Court should transfer this case.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
North Carolina’s congressional map is currently being litigated in multiple ongoing lawsuits, according to a roundup from NYU's Brennan Center for Justice, over allegations the map racially discriminates and is a partisan gerrymander.
—Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2025
At trial, Disney’s lawyers will seek to avoid re-litigating the COVID protocols.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for litigate
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New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Because of that mistake, and because litigating this case in the Northern District of California would serve the interests of litigation, convenience, and efficiency, the Court should transfer this case.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
North Carolina’s congressional map is currently being litigated in multiple ongoing lawsuits, according to a roundup from NYU's Brennan Center for Justice, over allegations the map racially discriminates and is a partisan gerrymander.
—Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2025
At trial, Disney’s lawyers will seek to avoid re-litigating the COVID protocols.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for litigate
Cite this Entry
“Litigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/litigate. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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Legal Definition
litigate
verb
lit·i·gate
ˈli-tə-ˌgāt
litigated; litigating
: to seek resolution of a legal contest by judicial process
chose to litigate rather than settle
: to make the subject of a suit
litigate a claim
broadly
: to contest or resolve in court
litigate an insanity defense
litigational
adjective
-shə-nəl
litigatory
adjective
ˈli-tə-gə-ˌtōr-ē
Etymology
Latin litigatus, past participle of litigare, from lit-, lis lawsuit + agere to drive
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