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

The Wall Street Journal reports that some of the 39 states have not agreed to the settlement and may continue their own antitrust litigation. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Mar. 2026

Historical paintings don’t come with certificates; experts are increasingly hesitant to express complete certainty, for fear of litigation or reputational damage should they be proven wrong. —Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 9 Mar. 2026

The litigation is the latest twist in a simmering behind-the-scenes scandal that has left much of Hollywood slack-jawed. —Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026

With attorneys focused on negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation, the firm treats each case as both a legal matter and a personal turning point for the client involved. —Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 9 Mar. 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