A1 noun Formal

litigation

/ˌlɪt.ɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/

Litigation is the process of using a court of law to solve a legal disagreement. It involves a judge or jury making a final decision about a dispute between people or companies.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The neighbors are in litigation over who owns the fence.

The neighbors are in a legal dispute over who owns the fence.

2

The corporation is prepared to proceed with litigation if the contract is not honored.

The corporation is ready to take legal action if the contract is not followed.

3

After the car accident, there was a lot of litigation about the insurance money.

After the car accident, there were many legal cases about the insurance money.

Word Family

Noun
litigation
Verb
litigate
Adverb
litigiously
Adjective
litigious
Related
litigant
💡

Memory Tip

L-itigation starts with L, just like Legal action and Lawsuit.

Quick Quiz

The company decided to settle the dispute out of court to avoid expensive ______.

Correct!

The correct answer is: litigation

Examples

1

The neighbors are in litigation over who owns the fence.

everyday

The neighbors are in a legal dispute over who owns the fence.

2

The corporation is prepared to proceed with litigation if the contract is not honored.

formal

The corporation is ready to take legal action if the contract is not followed.

3

After the car accident, there was a lot of litigation about the insurance money.

informal

After the car accident, there were many legal cases about the insurance money.

4

This paper analyzes the growth of civil litigation in modern society.

academic

This paper examines the increase of legal cases in modern society.

5

Our firm handles high-stakes commercial litigation for global clients.

business

Our firm manages important business legal cases for international clients.

Word Family

Noun
litigation
Verb
litigate
Adverb
litigiously
Adjective
litigious
Related
litigant

Common Collocations

pending litigation a legal case that is currently happening
civil litigation legal cases between people or companies rather than crimes
avoid litigation to stay out of court
threaten litigation to say you will take someone to court
cost of litigation the money spent on a legal case

Common Phrases

threat of litigation

a warning that someone might sue

litigation support

assistance provided to lawyers during a case

lengthy litigation

a legal case that lasts for a very long time

Often Confused With

litigation vs legislation

Legislation is the process of making laws; litigation is the process of using laws in court.

📝

Usage Notes

Litigation is a formal term used almost exclusively in legal and business settings. While 'lawsuit' refers to a specific case, 'litigation' often refers to the entire process.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often use the verb 'litigate' incorrectly; usually, it is more natural to say 'sue' or 'take legal action'.

💡

Memory Tip

L-itigation starts with L, just like Legal action and Lawsuit.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin 'litigatio', which means a dispute or a lawsuit.

Grammar Patterns

uncountable noun (usually) preposition 'in': to be in litigation preposition 'over': litigation over something
🌍

Cultural Context

In the United States, litigation is more common than in many other countries to resolve business and personal disputes.

Quick Quiz

The company decided to settle the dispute out of court to avoid expensive ______.

Correct!

The correct answer is: litigation

More law words

prosecutor

A1

A prosecutor is a lawyer who works for the government. Their job is to show a court that someone has committed a crime.

defendant

A1

A defendant is a person or organization that is being accused of a crime or is being sued in a court of law. This person is required to answer the legal charges brought against them by another party.

plaintiff

A1

A person or group who brings a legal case against another in a court of law. They are the ones starting the lawsuit because they believe they have been wronged.

jury

A1

A group of ordinary people chosen to listen to the facts of a trial in a court of law. They listen to the evidence and decide if a person is guilty or not guilty.

lawsuit

A1

A lawsuit is a legal case where one person or group brings a disagreement to a court of law for a judge to decide. It usually happens when someone wants money or a specific action from another person because of a problem or injury.

proof

A1

Proof is a fact or a piece of information that shows something is true. In a legal context, it is what a person uses to convince a judge or jury that a crime happened.

misdemeanor

A1

A misdemeanor is a minor crime that is less serious than a felony. It is usually punished by a fine or a short period of time in a local jail rather than a state prison.

sentence

A1

A sentence is a punishment given by a judge to someone who has been found guilty of a crime. It explains how much time a person must spend in prison or how much money they must pay as a fine.

bail

A1

Bail is a sum of money paid to a court so that a person who has been accused of a crime can stay out of jail until their trial starts. If the person shows up for their court date, the money is usually returned.

fraud

A1

Fraud is the illegal act of tricking someone to get their money or property. It is a crime where a person lies or hides the truth to gain an unfair advantage.

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Start learning languages for free

Start Learning Free