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
And the business of litigating accidents has become so lucrative that, earlier this year, one Baton Rouge personal-injury firm announced a novel partnership with a private-equity fund.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
But the fact that advocates secured a last-minute correction to the ballot’s own recitals, and are now litigating the proponents’ arguments in court, changes the narrative.
—Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026
Through the years, it’s been debated in bars, argued in newspapers, litigated in court, decided by juries and appealed all the way to the Supreme Court.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
The issue of the case being litigated in the press was a major topic of discussion by both lawyers.
—Gma Team, ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for litigate
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Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
But the fact that advocates secured a last-minute correction to the ballot’s own recitals, and are now litigating the proponents’ arguments in court, changes the narrative.
—Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026
Through the years, it’s been debated in bars, argued in newspapers, litigated in court, decided by juries and appealed all the way to the Supreme Court.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
The issue of the case being litigated in the press was a major topic of discussion by both lawyers.
—Gma Team, ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
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 Apr. 2026.
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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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