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

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

The district court will then adjust the case to match whatever the appeals court decides, after which both sides are expected to file major motions—likely including summary judgment—shaping what issues proceed to trial. —Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025

Baldoni's attorneys filed a motion for summary judgment last month, requesting that Judge Liman rule in their favor without proceeding to the trial that is scheduled for March 2026. —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Dec. 2025

With months to go and some summary judgments to be dealt with, witnesses have not been formally called yet. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 13 Nov. 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