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Litigate: meaning, definitions and examples

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litigate

 

[ ˈlɪtɪɡeɪt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

legal dispute

To litigate is to engage in a legal proceeding or lawsuit. It involves taking a case through the court system to resolve a dispute between parties. Litigating can include various steps such as filing complaints, conducting discovery, and presenting evidence in front of a judge or jury.

Synonyms

claim, contest, prosecute, sue

Examples of usage

  • The company decided to litigate against its former partner.
  • They are ready to litigate if an agreement cannot be reached.
  • Litigating a contract dispute can be costly and time-consuming.
  • Many lawyers specialize in litigating personal injury cases.

Translations

Translations of the word "litigate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 litigar

🇮🇳 मुकदमा करना

🇩🇪 klagen

🇮🇩 menggugat

🇺🇦 судитися

🇵🇱 pozwalać

🇯🇵 訴える

🇫🇷 litiguer

🇪🇸 litigar

🇹🇷 dava açmak

🇰🇷 소송하다

🇸🇦 يتقاضى

🇨🇿 žalovat

🇸🇰 žalovať

🇨🇳 诉讼

🇸🇮 tožiti

🇮🇸 saka

🇰🇿 сотқа беру

🇬🇪 სასამართლო

🇦🇿 məhkəməyə vermək

🇲🇽 litigar

Word origin

The term 'litigate' comes from the Latin word 'litigatus', which is the past participle of 'litigare', meaning 'to dispute' or 'to quarrel'. The root 'lis' refers to a lawsuit, while 'agere' means 'to act'. The word has evolved through Middle English as 'litigaten' before adopting its current form. It has been used in legal contexts to refer to the actions taken to resolve disputes in court since the early 18th century. The concept reflects the broader legal tradition in which parties seek remedies through judicial systems, often involving significant legal procedures.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,427, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.