litigation

noun

lit·​i·​ga·​tion ˌli-tə-ˈgā-shən 

plural litigations

: the act, process, or practice of settling a dispute in a court of law : the act or process of litigating

an issue that has been in litigation for years

an attorney who specializes in the litigation of property disputes

The American Judicial System generally limits the filing of lawsuits to individuals with a personal stake in the litigation, but there are instances when litigants cannot themselves prosecute an action.

—Jonathan Mahler

also : a legal action or proceeding (such as a lawsuit)

"You can't realize how much it costs to run one of these litigations. To get a battery of lawyers into a courtroom and do all the planning … and so on costs $500,000."

—Gordon Gould

Examples of litigation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Davis directed the parties to treat discovery materials as protected from public disclosure while the litigation continues. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026

The litigation on the ballroom, for example, will limp along, with, almost certainly, little effect on the construction of the ballroom itself. — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

The preparations include drafted legal briefs and plans for litigation covering nearly every conceivable scenario. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026

More than 70 survivors and relatives have expressed support for or interest in joining the litigation. — Michelle Gumede, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing litigation

• in litigation

Rhymes for litigation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation