as in defendants
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.
Related Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of litigants
Black citizens could now testify, regardless of litigants’ race.
—
Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
In this case, the majority of the court reached for an issue no one presented, setting aside the normal procedure of dealing only with the facts and questions presented by the litigants, Wood said.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Nov. 2025
These litigants have spared no expense and likely would continue to pursue every possible path to a win.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Fans can expect to see Tommie Lee, Mehgan James, and Daphnique Springs, alongside everyday litigants whose real-life disputes spark equal parts laughter and drama.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
Yet his unplanned role in a major case underscores a broader question about how ordinary citizens become symbolic litigants in disputes that may redefine the nation’s voting-rights landscape.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Damien Charlotin, a legal researcher and data scientist, has organized a public database tracking legal decisions in cases where litigants were caught using AI in court.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2025
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
Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
In this case, the majority of the court reached for an issue no one presented, setting aside the normal procedure of dealing only with the facts and questions presented by the litigants, Wood said.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Nov. 2025
These litigants have spared no expense and likely would continue to pursue every possible path to a win.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Fans can expect to see Tommie Lee, Mehgan James, and Daphnique Springs, alongside everyday litigants whose real-life disputes spark equal parts laughter and drama.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
Yet his unplanned role in a major case underscores a broader question about how ordinary citizens become symbolic litigants in disputes that may redefine the nation’s voting-rights landscape.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Damien Charlotin, a legal researcher and data scientist, has organized a public database tracking legal decisions in cases where litigants were caught using AI in court.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for litigants
Noun
-
Three other defendants initially listed in Zwerner's complaint -- two school administrators and the Newport News School Board -- were dismissed from the lawsuit ahead of the civil trial.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
6 Nov. 2025
-
When a sheriff shot two of the defendants, one fatally, before they could be retried, Moore called for him to be suspended and charged with murder.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Say, for example, that a restaurant’s menu states that an automatic 18% charge will be added to all bills for parties of six or more customers.—
Cheryl Winokur Munk,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
-
While no blame was assigned, the hearings were open to the public and often gave interested parties, including family members of the person killed, their first opportunity for answers.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Federal judge Julia Kobick in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction stopping the Administration from enforcing the policy against Orr and six other individual plaintiffs in April.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
-
In a May 2024 answer to the lawsuit complaint, city attorneys representing the defendants argued that there shouldn't be grounds for a lawsuit and the plaintiffs aren't entitled to any damages.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Litigants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/litigants. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share