litigation

The word “litigation” means the process of taking or defending a legal case in court. In plain terms, the business of fighting a case out in court.

“Litigation” is pronounced lih-tih-GAY-shuhn (/ˌlɪtɪˈɡeɪ̯ʃən/ in IPA).

Here is “litigation” used in a sentence: “The two companies settled just before the litigation went to trial.”

“Litigation” is a noun.

The word “litigation” comes from Latin. From Latin litigatio, from litigare ("to dispute, go to law").

“Litigation” is a fairly common word in modern English.

A lawsuit is a single legal claim brought by one party against another, while litigation is the whole process of pursuing or defending such a case in court. Litigation covers everything from filing and evidence to hearings and appeals; a lawsuit is the dispute at the centre of it.

Litigation resolves a dispute through the public court system, decided by a judge or jury. Arbitration is a private alternative in which an appointed arbitrator hears the case and makes a decision outside court. Litigation is generally more formal and part of the public record.

In litigation, a judge imposes a binding decision after a formal court process. In mediation, a neutral third party helps the sides reach their own voluntary agreement and cannot force an outcome. Litigation is adversarial, while mediation is cooperative.

"Litigation" often appears in phrases such as civil litigation, commercial litigation, and litigation costs. A person involved in a case is a party to the litigation, and a lawyer who handles such cases is called a litigator.