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
For the moment, the state supreme court’s attempt to steal Riggs’s seat is on hold — a federal judge issued a temporary order forbidding the state from certifying the result of the election until after this case is fully litigated in federal court.
—Ian Millhiser, Vox, 14 Apr. 2025
Instead, officers’ actions are litigated in the court of public opinion.
—Paul Vallas, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
Khalil’s case is also being litigated in a district court in New Jersey, and the immigration judge’s ruling in Louisiana can be appealed, meaning Khalil’s deportation is on hold.
—Yash Roy, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
The first battle in the case — where it will be litigated — is still underway as Khalil, a green card holder, remains in custody while his wife, an American citizen, is due to give birth soon.
—Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 31 Mar. 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.
Ian Millhiser, Vox, 14 Apr. 2025
Instead, officers’ actions are litigated in the court of public opinion.
—Paul Vallas, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
Khalil’s case is also being litigated in a district court in New Jersey, and the immigration judge’s ruling in Louisiana can be appealed, meaning Khalil’s deportation is on hold.
—Yash Roy, CNN Money, 14 Apr. 2025
The first battle in the case — where it will be litigated — is still underway as Khalil, a green card holder, remains in custody while his wife, an American citizen, is due to give birth soon.
—Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for litigate
Cite this Entry
“Litigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/litigate. Accessed 22 Apr. 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