lawsuit
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for lawsuit, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A civil case brought before a court to settle a dispute between parties.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use lawsuit
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
A compound of "law" and "suit."
Full origin of lawsuit →Frequently asked questions
What does “lawsuit” mean?
The word “lawsuit” means a civil case brought before a court to settle a dispute between parties. In plain terms, a legal case one party brings against another in court.
How do you pronounce “lawsuit”?
“Lawsuit” is pronounced LAW-soot (/ˈlɔˌs(j)ut/ in IPA).
How do you use “lawsuit” in a sentence?
Here is “lawsuit” used in a sentence: “The company faced a lawsuit over the defective product.”
What part of speech is “lawsuit”?
“Lawsuit” is a noun.
Is “lawsuit” a common word?
“Lawsuit” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between a lawsuit and a case?
A lawsuit is specifically a civil action that one party brings against another to settle a dispute, while case is the broader word for any matter before a court, civil or criminal. Every lawsuit is a case, but a criminal prosecution is a case that is not a lawsuit.
Is a lawsuit civil or criminal?
A lawsuit is civil. It is brought by a person, company, or other party to resolve a dispute, typically seeking money or another remedy. Criminal matters are brought by the state and are called prosecutions or criminal cases, not lawsuits.
What is the difference between a lawsuit and a suit?
In legal contexts they mean the same thing: suit is simply the shorter form of lawsuit, as in 'to file suit'. Lawsuit is clearer in general writing because suit also has unrelated meanings, such as a set of clothes.
Do you 'file', 'make', or 'do' a lawsuit?
The standard collocation is to file a lawsuit; you can also bring a lawsuit against someone. 'Make a lawsuit' and 'do a lawsuit' are not natural English. Related patterns include facing a lawsuit, settling a lawsuit, and dropping a lawsuit.