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Litigant: meaning, definitions and examples

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litigant

 

[ ˈlɪtɪɡənt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

legal term

A litigant is a person involved in a lawsuit. This can be either the plaintiff or the defendant, or any other party bringing a case to court. Litigants are represented by lawyers and are expected to present their case before a judge or jury.

Synonyms

defendant, petitioner, plaintiff, respondent.

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Word Description / Examples
litigant

Used to refer to any party involved in a lawsuit, whether they are filing it or defending against it. It is a general term.

  • The litigants finally reached a settlement after months of negotiation.
  • Both litigants presented strong arguments in court.
plaintiff

Used to refer to the person or party who initiates a lawsuit, typically in civil cases, by filing a complaint against the defendant.

  • The plaintiff claimed that the company had breached the contract.
  • In the case of Smith vs. Jones, the plaintiff sought compensation for damages.
defendant

Typically used to refer to the person or party against whom a lawsuit is filed, often in criminal or civil cases.

  • The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
  • In the lawsuit, the defendant argued that she was not responsible for the damages.
petitioner

Usually used in legal contexts where someone is making a formal request to a court, often seen in family law or cases involving appeals.

  • The petitioner asked the court for a restraining order.
  • As the petitioner in the case, Anna sought a review of the custody arrangements.
respondent

Often used in legal contexts to describe the party who responds to a petition, commonly seen in family law or appellate cases. It is also used more broadly to describe any party who responds to a legal action or litigation.

  • The respondent filed a counter-petition.
  • In many divorce cases, the respondent is required to provide financial disclosures.

Examples of usage

  • The litigant claimed that the contract had been breached.
  • The court ruled in favor of the litigant.
  • The litigant's attorney presented compelling evidence.

Translations

Translations of the word "litigant" in other languages:

🇵🇹 litigante

🇮🇳 वादकारी

🇩🇪 Prozesspartei

🇮🇩 penggugat

🇺🇦 позивач

🇵🇱 strona procesowa

🇯🇵 訴訟当事者

🇫🇷 plaideur

🇪🇸 litigante

🇹🇷 davacı

🇰🇷 소송 당사자

🇸🇦 المتقاضي

🇨🇿 účastník řízení

🇸🇰 sporový účastník

🇨🇳 诉讼当事人

🇸🇮 tožnik

🇮🇸 málsaðili

🇰🇿 даугер

🇬🇪 სამართლებრივი მხარე

🇦🇿 iddiaçı

🇲🇽 litigante

Etymology

The word 'litigant' originated from the Latin word 'litigant-', meaning 'disputing in a court of law'. It has been used in English legal terminology since the late 16th century. Over the centuries, 'litigant' has become a common term in the legal field to refer to parties involved in lawsuits.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,072, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.