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litigant
[ lit-i-guhnt ]
noun
- a person engaged in a lawsuit.
adjective
- litigating; engaged in a lawsuit.
litigant
/ ˈlɪtɪɡənt /
noun
- a party to a lawsuit
adjective
- engaged in litigation
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Word History and Origins
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Example Sentences
Generally, judges have discretion over whether to appoint a guardian, though Milstein said judges often rely on guardians to be their “eyes and ears” on matters involving litigants who can’t make decisions for themselves.
Without a housing element, she noted, the city would be vulnerable to litigants and judges crafting housing plans.
In order to strike down a law under Section 2, litigants must prove that it both produces racially discriminatory results and connects to social and historical discrimination.
It is highly unusual for a judge to call a litigant in a proceeding directly.
The court simply held the County to the same standard as any other litigant.
Judges are not required to step aside in cases in which they own bonds in one of the parties or receive royalties from a litigant.
Historically, there is no single litigant more successful in the Supreme Court than the United States.
He had his share of brabbling with intricate litigant neighbors; quarrels now and then not to be settled without strokes.
He would frequently, against his own interest, persuade a litigant of the injustice of his case, and induce him to throw it up.
The worst cause cannot be so prejudicial to the litigant, as his advocate's or attorney's ignorance or neglect of these forms.
If the poor litigant succeeds in his proceedings, the unsuccessful party pays the costs.
No counsel was, therefore, at hand to be employed in the defense of a prisoner or litigant.
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Related Words
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More About Litigant
What does litigant mean?
A litigant is a person engaged in a lawsuit.
To litigate is to engage in a legal proceeding, such as a lawsuit. It can mean to bring a lawsuit or to contest one.
The word especially refers to what lawyers do in such a proceeding. In fact, another name for a lawyer is litigator, especially a lawyer who specializes in civil cases. Less commonly, litigator can also be used as a synonym for litigant.
The process of engaging in a legal proceeding is called litigation. To be in litigation typically means to be engaged in a civil legal proceeding (as opposed to a criminal one, in which one is said to be on trial).
Litigant can also be used as an adjective to describe someone engaged in litigation, but this is much less common than its use as a noun.
Example: The litigants have agreed to avoid further litigation and settle out of court.
Where does litigant come from?
The first records of the word litigant come from the 1630s. It ultimately derives from the Latin verb lītigāre, meaning “to go to law,” from līt- (a stem of līs, meaning “lawsuit”) and agere, “to carry on.”
Litigators litigate, and litigating often takes the form of carrying on a lawsuit. The parties to such lawsuits are the litigants. Litigation is often expensive and time-consuming (which might be good for the litigators but not so much for their clients, the litigants). For this reason, people often try to avoid litigation when they’re on the wrong end of a lawsuit. Some choose to go through arbitration, which is a process in which a third party helps to settle the dispute.
Litigants who do engage in litigation and present their cases in court can still agree to settle before a decision is reached by the court—meaning they agree to stop litigating and come to a deal on their own (though often still with the help of the litigators).
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to litigant?
- litigate (verb)
- litigation (noun)
- litigator (noun)
- litigable (adjective)
What are some words that share a root or word element with litigant?
What are some words that often get used in discussing litigant?
How is litigant used in real life?
The word litigant is typically used in the context of lawsuits.
As more and more litigants turn to alternative dispute resolution, experts expect the trend to continue even after the current health crisis is over.https://t.co/ASo4PVwLfr
— Law.com (@lawdotcom) June 23, 2020
If America’s civil courts implemented online dispute resolution, both litigants and the court system could benefit, seeing improvements in customer service, increased efficiency, and reduced costs. https://t.co/5SYYYxkEaf
— Pew States (@PewStates) March 5, 2019
The Herald reports a trend by some lawyers and litigants going “Forum Shopping” for perceived favourable courts or judicial officers who are likely to give them convenient judgements. And we are not supposed to comment about that? Naa, ain’t gonna happen.https://t.co/C4AHgszmk7
— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) June 22, 2020
Try using litigant!
True or False?
Litigant can be used as an adjective.
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