litigate

verb

lit·​i·​gate ˈli-tə-ˌgāt 

litigated; litigating

intransitive verb

: to carry on a legal contest by judicial (see judicial sense 1a) process

… only states can litigate before this Court …

—R. H. Heindel

transitive verb

1

: to decide and settle in a court of law

litigate a claim

2

archaic : dispute

litigable

ˈli-ti-gə-bəl 

adjective

Examples 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

The constitutional question has been litigated many times, and by our count, every state or federal appellate court that’s ruled on the issue has concluded that ALPR networks are within bounds of the Fourth Amendment. — Rafael A. Mangual, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026

Alliance Defending Freedom has helped litigate many high-profile culture war cases. — Mark Satta, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026

The company agreed to put $250 million into a settlement fund rather than continue litigating the case. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026

At present, the owners of 16 Miami-Dade ALFs that house and care for people with mental illness are litigating with the state to stay open, records show. — Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin litigatus, past participle of litigare, from lit-, lis lawsuit + agere to drive — more at agent

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for litigate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

litigate

verb

lit·​i·​gate ˈlit-ə-ˌgāt 

litigated; litigating

: to carry on a lawsuit

litigation

ˌlit-ə-ˈgā-shən 

noun

litigator

ˈlit-ə-ˌgāt-ər 

noun

Legal Definition

litigate

verb

lit·​i·​gate ˈli-tə-ˌgāt 

litigated; litigating

intransitive verb

: to seek resolution of a legal contest by judicial process

chose to litigate rather than settle

transitive verb

: to make the subject of a suit

litigate a claim

broadly : to contest or resolve in court

litigate an insanity defense

litigable

ˈli-tə-gə-bəl 

adjective

litigation

ˌli-tə-ˈgā-shən 

noun

litigational

-shə-nəl

adjective

litigatory

ˈli-tə-gə-ˌtōr-ē

adjective

Etymology

Latin litigatus, past participle of litigare, from lit-, lis lawsuit + agere to drive