litigation

noun

lit·​i·​ga·​tion ˌli-tə-ˈgā-shən 

plural litigations

: the act, process, or practice of settling a dispute in a court of law : the act or process of litigating

an issue that has been in litigation for years

an attorney who specializes in the litigation of property disputes

The American Judicial System generally limits the filing of lawsuits to individuals with a personal stake in the litigation, but there are instances when litigants cannot themselves prosecute an action.

—Jonathan Mahler

also : a legal action or proceeding (such as a lawsuit)

"You can't realize how much it costs to run one of these litigations. To get a battery of lawyers into a courtroom and do all the planning … and so on costs $500,000."

—Gordon Gould

Examples of litigation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Key justices appeared wary about the potential sweep of litigation, but torn over the complex questions of federal and state law raised by the case. — Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026

Fox and its founder, Rupert Murdoch, have faced controversies, scandals and litigation before. — David Folkenflik, NPR, 4 Oct. 2026

Prior litigation Qualls made similar accusations against her previous employer, McShane LLC, a Nevada Republican consulting firm. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Metrolink is currently embroiled in new litigation after a former executive who was fired earlier this year filed a lawsuit that alleged the system failed to properly maintain parts and put riders and employees in danger. — Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing litigation

• in litigation

Rhymes for litigation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation