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 county retained Kelly & Grossman LLP — working alongside McIntyre Schnieders and Justice Law Collaborative LLC — to litigate the case on a contingency-fee basis. — Reeti Malhotra july 23, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026

The counsel pointed to a previous case litigated by IJ in which the Indiana Supreme Court found the state’s attempt to forfeit a man’s $40,000 Land Rover over a low-level drug offense was unconstitutionally excessive. — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026

The unclear nature of what exactly the deal covers means any actual efforts to enforce it would likely have to be litigated in court and left up to a judge to determine whether or not the deal applies. — Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Pundits or the public will litigate these reasons across the next 13 days and perhaps overlook Alvarez’s dominance amid that debate. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 21 July 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