litigate
verb
lit·i·gate
ˈli-tə-ˌgāt 
litigated; litigating
: to carry on a legal contest by judicial (see judicial sense 1a) process
only states can litigate before this court—
R. H. Heindel
R. H. HeindelExamples of litigate in a Sentence
They agree to litigate all disputes in this court.
The company's unwillingness to make a deal increased her desire to litigate.
Recent Examples on the Web
The judge warned both parties to refrain from litigating the case in the public forum in pre-trial conference on Feb. 3.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 13 Feb. 2025
In order to have jurisdiction over the actions of Americans in the ICC, there would need to be evidence of Americans troops on the ground acting on direct orders from a head of state to do acts that amount to violations of international law litigated in the ICC.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 12 Feb. 2025
Even though the legal argument proved unsuccessful, the city litigated the case all the way to the state Supreme Court.
—Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2025
Judges typically disfavor pre-trial publicity that risks tainting a jury pool and, in fact, the federal judge has already warned both sides against litigating the case in the media.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, Fox News, 6 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for litigate 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Charna Flam, People.com, 13 Feb. 2025
In order to have jurisdiction over the actions of Americans in the ICC, there would need to be evidence of Americans troops on the ground acting on direct orders from a head of state to do acts that amount to violations of international law litigated in the ICC.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 12 Feb. 2025
Even though the legal argument proved unsuccessful, the city litigated the case all the way to the state Supreme Court.
—Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2025
Judges typically disfavor pre-trial publicity that risks tainting a jury pool and, in fact, the federal judge has already warned both sides against litigating the case in the media.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, Fox News, 6 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for litigate
Dictionary Entries Near litigate
Cite this Entry
“Litigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/litigate. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
litigate
verb
lit·i·gate
ˈli-tə-ˌgāt
litigated; litigating
: to seek resolution of a legal contest by judicial process
chose to litigate rather than settle
: to make the subject of a suit
litigate a claim
broadly
: to contest or resolve in court
litigate an insanity defense
litigational
adjective
-shə-nəl
litigatory
adjective
ˈli-tə-gə-ˌtōr-ē
Etymology
Latin litigatus, past participle of litigare, from lit-, lis lawsuit + agere to drive
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share