lawsuit
LAW-soot
/ˈlɔːsuːt/
A legal proceeding brought by one party against another in a civil court of law.
Refers specifically to civil actions between private parties, distinct from criminal prosecutions brought by the state.
The story behind the word. The term comes from Old French loi ('law') and suite ('pursuit' or 'following', from Latin sequi). Historically, a lawsuit was literally the 'pursuit of law'—the act of following a claim through the court system to seek justice.
Word relationships
- suit: A broader or slightly more formal shortened legal term for a lawsuit.
- action: Formal legal phrasing used within court papers to designate judicial proceedings.
- out-of-court settlement: An agreement reached directly between parties that avoids or terminates court proceedings.
Commonly confused with
- prosecution: A prosecution is brought by government prosecutors in criminal law, whereas a lawsuit is a civil proceeding.
Word family
- lawsuits (noun): Plural form of lawsuit.
Collocations
- file a lawsuit
- dismiss a lawsuit
- settle a lawsuit
- pending lawsuit
Idioms & expressions
- slapp lawsuit
Example sentences
- "In 1852, Charles Dickens depicted the endless Chancery lawsuit of Jarndyce v Jarndyce in Bleak House." Literary reference to prolonged civil litigation
- "The technology firm filed a patent infringement lawsuit against its primary competitor." Corporate dispute resolution
Memory hook
Think of pursuing a legal SUIT wearing formal clothes to court to pursue a LAW claim. Pursuit of law in court.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to a criminal trial or police prosecution.
Fun facts
- In Victorian England, Chancery suits could drag on for decades, sometimes consuming the entire estate in legal fees.
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