as in defendant
law
someone who brings a legal action against another person or against whom a legal action is brought
Both litigants chose to represent themselves in court.
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Recent Examples of litigant
There are few litigants besides the nation’s largest bank that could afford to pay such costs.
—
Sydney Lake, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
In those states, litigants appeal directly to the state supreme court.
—Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
As a federal judge, Talwani has a history of siding with liberal litigants, including in immigration cases.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 10 Sep. 2025
Decades later, he was declared a vexatious litigant by the High Court, Federal Court and Queensland Supreme Court, a label that barred him from filing any more claims.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for litigant
Sydney Lake, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
In those states, litigants appeal directly to the state supreme court.
—Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025
As a federal judge, Talwani has a history of siding with liberal litigants, including in immigration cases.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 10 Sep. 2025
Decades later, he was declared a vexatious litigant by the High Court, Federal Court and Queensland Supreme Court, a label that barred him from filing any more claims.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for litigant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for litigant
Noun
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The lawsuit, previously obtained by PEOPLE, names former school assistant principal Ebony Parker as a defendant and accuses her of failing to act on multiple reports that the student had a gun.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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The jury, however, deadlocked on charges against co-defendant Brandt Osborn, 45, who was facing two counts of being an accessory after the fact.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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When Bruck never returned from the party, her family grew concerned and called the police, prompting a massive search for her.—
Kelsey Lentz,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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Lili Reinhart, Madelaine Petsch, and KJ Apa enjoyed a mini Riverdale reunion at their former costar Camila Mendes' surprise engagement party over the weekend.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The psychological scars of the shooting are still fresh and painful, the plaintiff said.—
Gary Grumbach,
NBC news,
30 Oct. 2025
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The order applies to federal employees in programs or offices where the plaintiff unions have members or bargaining units.—
The NPR Network,
NPR,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Litigant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/litigant. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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