litigate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to make the subject of a lawsuit; contest at law.
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Archaic. to dispute (a point, assertion, etc.).
verb (used without object)
verb
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to bring or contest (a claim, action, etc) in a lawsuit
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(intr) to engage in legal proceedings
Usage
What does litigate mean? To litigate is to engage in a legal proceeding, such as a lawsuit. It can mean to bring a lawsuit or to contest one. The word especially refers to what lawyers do in such a proceeding. In fact, another name for a lawyer is litigator, especially a lawyer who specializes in civil cases. The related word litigant refers to a person engaged in a lawsuit. The process of engaging in a legal proceeding is called litigation. To be in litigation typically means to be engaged in a civil legal proceeding (as opposed to a criminal one, in which one is said to be on trial). Litigate can also be used in a somewhat figurative or general way meaning to intensely dispute or argue something, as if one were a lawyer in a courtroom setting, as in It’s just a minor issue—we don’t have to litigate it over and over again. Example: They want to avoid having to litigate, so they’re going to try to get you to settle out of court.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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litigatornoun
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litigativeadjective
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relitigateverb (used with object)
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unlitigatedadjective
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unlitigatingadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have litigatedperfect
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has litigatedperfect 3rd person singular
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have been litigatingperfect progressive
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am litigatingprogressive 1st person singular
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litigatessingular 3rd person
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is litigatingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are litigatingprogressive
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litigatingparticiple
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has been litigatingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
Past
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had litigatedperfect
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litigatedsimple
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were litigatingprogressive plural
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had been litigatingperfect progressive
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was litigatingprogressive singular
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litigatedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of litigate
First recorded in 1605–15, litigate is from the Latin word lītigātus (past participle of lītigāre to go to law). See litigant, -ate 1
Explanation
To litigate is to engage in some sort of legal proceedings. Litigating mostly takes place in court. If you're litigating, you'd better have a lawyer: you're involved in some sort of legal situation. When you sue someone, that's litigating. The person sued is also forced to litigate. People accused of a crime have to litigate when they're on trial. There are many types of litigation. Lawyers usually specialize in one type of litigating, such as criminal law or corporate law. If you're ever on a jury, you'll get a closer look at how litigating works.
Vocabulary lists containing litigate
Selection Vocabulary 2, Unit 3
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Unequal: A Story of America
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Black Bird, Blue Road
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Defendants can choose to litigate in federal court, which can cost a significant amount of time and accumulate a mountain of legal fees.
From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026
Because of New Prime, contractors can now litigate their claims in federal court instead of being forced into private arbitration.
From Slate • Jun. 3, 2026
Exxon also amended its bylaws to provide an “exclusive forum provision” to litigate shareholder suits in federal court in southern Texas or the state’s special business courts.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026
Breathitt School District, located in the US state of Kentucky, had been poised to litigate the first case attempting to make social media companies cover those costs.
From BBC • May 21, 2026
Joshua Carter and Robert Caston were the first two cases we decided to litigate.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
