Litigation
/ˌlɪt.ɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/noun
The process of taking legal action in a court of law.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin *litigāre*, meaning “to dispute, quarrel, or carry on a lawsuit,” so the legal system’s language still carries the energy of public combat.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leig-
“to bind, tie; to be associated with binding and obligation”
Latin
Latin
lītigāre
“to dispute, quarrel, carry on a lawsuit”
Late Latin
Latin
lītigātiō
“a lawsuit, legal contention”
Old French
Old French
litigation
“a legal dispute or lawsuit”
Middle English
English
litigacioun
“legal action or contest in court”
Modern English
English
litigation
“the process of resolving disputes through the courts”