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

If a defendant attaches evidence to a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, then that motion is converted to a motion for summary judgment under Rule 56. —Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

Both parties have been exchanging evidence and expert testimony for more than a year, but a trial date has been elusive since the county sought to dismiss most of the claims in what’s called a motion for summary judgment. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2025

The second inquiry was whether Cook could establish a prima facie case against the defendants that would survive summary judgment even in the face of the defendants' rights to free speech and to petition. —Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025

The case is being heard in U.S. District Court of Kansas, and could go to trial later this year if not resolved in a summary judgment ruling. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 15 May 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