Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
litigate [lit-i-geyt] Word Origin verb (used with object), lit·i·gat·ed, lit·i·gat·ing.
- to make the subject of a lawsuit; contest at law.
- Archaic. to dispute (a point, assertion, etc.).
verb (used without object), lit·i·gat·ed, lit·i·gat·ing.
- to carry on a lawsuit.
Origin of litigate First recorded in 1605–15, litigate is from the Latin word lītigātus (past participle of lītigāre to go to law). See litigant, -ate1 Related formslit·i·ga·tive, adjectivere·lit·i·gate, verb (used with object), re·lit·i·gat·ed, re·lit·i·gat·ing.un·lit·i·gat·ed, adjectiveun·lit·i·gat·ing, adjective British Dictionary definitions for litigative litigate verb
- to bring or contest (a claim, action, etc) in a lawsuit
- (intr) to engage in legal proceedings
Derived Formslitigator, nounWord Origin for litigate C17: from Latin lītigāre, from līt-, stem of līs lawsuit + agere to carry on Word Origin and History for litigative litigate v.
1610s, from Middle French litigier and directly from Latin litigatus, past participle of litigare “to dispute, carry on a suit” (see litigation). Related: Litigated; litigating.