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

Afterward, Judge Bill Whitehill didn’t rule on any of the seven motions for summary judgment, but if Friday’s sporadic fireworks are an indication, the case seems destined for jury trial, currently scheduled for May 11. —Brad Townsend, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026

In that summary judgment, Judge Arun Subramanian dismissed claims that Live Nation has a monopoly over the concert promotion industry, and that its conduct has led to higher ticket prices. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026

The suit went to trial last month after surviving motions to dismiss and for summary judgment. —Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Mar. 2026

Haines issued a summary judgment agreeing with those challenging the law who called it an unconstitutional assault on property owners’ rights. —U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for summary judgment

• judgement
• misjudgment
• prejudgment

Legal Definition

summary judgment

see also:

judgment sense 1a