as in defendant
law
someone who brings a legal action against another person or against whom a legal action is brought
Both litigants chose to represent themselves in court.
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Recent Examples of litigant
Other litigants’ right to access to courts is at risk because execution litigation must take priority.
—
Melanie Verdecia, Sun Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026
Once a complaint is filed, attorneys told us, litigants using AI often proceed to file a steady drip of new motions and other documents, prompting the professionals on the other side of the case to pour a huge number of hours into reading and responding to the outflow of material.
—Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 18 Mar. 2026
In this case, however, your expertise is needed to help a jury (or litigants) decide whether someone’s personal or professional behavior deviated from the norm in a way that would irreparably harm another person.
—Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
My leadership on the bench is guided by judicial ethics, the Constitution, and a commitment to impartiality, independence, and due process — principles that serve all litigants, regardless of political belief.
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for litigant
Melanie Verdecia, Sun Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026
Once a complaint is filed, attorneys told us, litigants using AI often proceed to file a steady drip of new motions and other documents, prompting the professionals on the other side of the case to pour a huge number of hours into reading and responding to the outflow of material.
—Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 18 Mar. 2026
In this case, however, your expertise is needed to help a jury (or litigants) decide whether someone’s personal or professional behavior deviated from the norm in a way that would irreparably harm another person.
—Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
My leadership on the bench is guided by judicial ethics, the Constitution, and a commitment to impartiality, independence, and due process — principles that serve all litigants, regardless of political belief.
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for litigant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for litigant
Noun
-
The University of Kansas Hospital Authority settled with the Noltes shortly before the trial, and District Court Judge Courtney Mikesic approved the confidential settlement on April 13, dismissing KU Med as a defendant.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
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Tupac’s stepbrother, Maurice Shakur, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Duane Davis and unnamed defendants, claiming recent developments point to a broader conspiracy behind the rapper’s death.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The plan, conveyed through mediators in Pakistan to break a stalemate with Washington, calls for extending the ceasefire so the parties can work toward a permanent end to the fighting, Axios said.—
Jon Herskovitz,
Bloomberg,
27 Apr. 2026
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Minaj will attend as a guest of Fox News, which is also throwing its own VIP party before Saturday's official dinner, Fox confirmed to USA TODAY.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, is seeking monetary damages and a jury trial.—
Lexi Nicklaus,
Baltimore Sun,
28 Apr. 2026
-
On Monday, Gregory Craig, the attorney for the National Trust, wrote to Assistant Attorney General Breet Shumate, who had urged the plaintiffs to drop the case, citing the events at the Correspondents’ Dinner.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Litigant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/litigant. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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