Definition:

Litigation (n.) is the process of taking a case through court. The litigation or legal process is most common in civil lawsuits. In litigation, there is a plaintiff (one who brings the charge) and a defendant (one against whom the charge is brought).

To litigate is to file a charge against someone and bring a case to court.

The alternative to litigation in business cases is arbitration.

Pronunciation: lit-i-GA-shun LIT-i-gate

Also Known As: legal process

Examples: The company chose to go through the litigation process, charging its competitor with stealing its trademark.