summary judgment

noun

: judgment that may be granted upon a party's motion when the pleadings, discovery, and any affidavits show that there is no issue of material fact and that the party is entitled to judgment in its favor as a matter of law

Examples of summary judgment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But Thompson issued a summary judgment on Wednesday, finding that the effort to revoke the legal status of tens of thousands of Hondurans, Nepalis and Nicaraguans was unlawful. —Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025

The measure also allows judges to issue summary judgments in clear squatting cases and tightens notice requirements, directing landlords to deliver eviction notices in ways likely to ensure occupants actually receive them, such as direct delivery or posting notices in visible places. —Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 30 Dec. 2025

The states won a summary judgment last week, but the money has not been delivered. —Evan Bush, NBC news, 21 Dec. 2025

And a third federal judge in Massachusetts is set to oversee a summary judgment hearing in a challenge to DHS’s policy seeking to deport noncitizens to a third country without giving them notice or opportunity to contest their fear of persecution there. —Ella Lee, The Hill, 10 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for summary judgment

• judgement
• misjudgment
• prejudgment

Legal Definition

summary judgment

see judgment sense 1a