Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Litigation has 2 different meanings across 1 category:
a legal proceeding in a court; a judicial contest to determine and enforce legal rights
"The company decided to settle the litigation before it reached the courtroom, saving both sides time and money."
The conduct of a lawsuit.
"The lawyer spent weeks reviewing all the evidence needed to win the litigation against the corporation."
In plain English: Litigation is the process of taking legal action to settle a dispute in court.
"The company decided to settle the litigation before it went to court."
Usage: Litigation refers to the entire process of taking legal action in court to resolve a dispute, rather than just the specific act of conducting a lawsuit. Use this term when describing the broader phase where parties present evidence and arguments before a judge or jury.
The word litigation comes from the Latin term lītigātiō. It entered English through the verb litigate, carrying its original meaning of engaging in a legal dispute or lawsuit.