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
In recent days, a small chorus of Democrats has been litigating the wisdom of Biden running for a second term, calling the knee-jerk defense of his political viability a mistake that broke the trust of voters.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 24 May 2025
The city litigated the claim all the way to the California Supreme Court, which last year refused to hear the case.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
Advocates for the migrants say now many could be deported before the case is fully litigated.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 21 May 2025
The Supreme Court recently issued an order temporarily allowing the ban to stay in place while it's litigated in a lower court.
—Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for litigate
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Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 24 May 2025
The city litigated the claim all the way to the California Supreme Court, which last year refused to hear the case.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025
Advocates for the migrants say now many could be deported before the case is fully litigated.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 21 May 2025
The Supreme Court recently issued an order temporarily allowing the ban to stay in place while it's litigated in a lower court.
—Nick Mordowanec, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 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 29 May. 2025.
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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
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