Word
litigation
Phoneticslit·i·ga·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɫɪtəˈɡeɪʃən/
UK/lˌɪtɪɡˈeɪʃən/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the process of taking a disagreement to a court of law so a judge can decide who is right. It is a formal way for people or companies to solve legal problems.
n. the process of taking legal action through a court system to resolve a dispute. Often used to describe civil rather than criminal proceedings.
Examples
“The company is currently involved in litigation over a patent.”
“After months of failed negotiations, the two businesses decided that litigation was the only way to settle the contract dispute.”
“The threat of protracted litigation often forces a settlement between parties who wish to avoid the escalating costs and public scrutiny of a full trial.”
Examples
simple
“The company is currently involved in litigation over a patent.”
contextual
“After months of failed negotiations, the two businesses decided that litigation was the only way to settle the contract dispute.”
complex
“The threat of protracted litigation often forces a settlement between parties who wish to avoid the escalating costs and public scrutiny of a full trial.”
Usage
Commonly follows verbs like 'commence', 'avoid', or 'threaten'; often functions as a modifier in phrases like 'litigation costs'.
Real-World Examples
“The claims could open the floodgates to the type of litigation that challenged the tobacco industry in the late 1990s, he said.” “Aminta Ossom provides pro bono advice to a plaintiff in separate Duty of Vigilance litigation, but has no financial interest in TotalEnergies and was not involved in the TotalEnergies case.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin lītigātiō, equivalent to litigate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/litigation