litigants

noun

plural of litigant
as in defendants
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of litigants The reaction from both litigants was predictable. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026 For years, the Northern District of Texas has been favored by conservative litigants. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 13 May 2026 Gonzalez Rogers heaped praise on the jurors during the trial and alluded to the contrast between them and the billionaire witnesses and litigants. — David Ingram, NBC news, 15 May 2026 In prioritizing splashy lawsuit announcements over long-term success in court, the Justice Department is adopting the strategy of other right-wing litigants. — Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026 These are the conditions that EEO-1 data helps identify to examine the patterns that allow researchers, litigants, and investigators to make the case that what is happening is not incidental, but structural. — Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 While that move failed, the subsequent legal action—which included star quarterbacks Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees as litigants—led to a federal judge ordering owners to end the lockout. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 May 2026 The bulk of these predatory lawsuits are filed by a small number of serial litigants and a handful of law firms, including San Diego firm Potter Handy and Manning Law in Orange County. — Adam B. Summers, Oc Register, 1 June 2026 The bulk of these predatory lawsuits are filed by a small number of serial litigants and a handful of law firms, including San Diego firm Potter Handy and Manning Law in Orange County. — Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for litigants
  1. defendants
  2. parties
  3. plaintiffs
Noun
  • His girlfriend, Syanna Ruiz, held their child in court, demanding the defendants remain behind bars.
    — Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 2 July 2026
  • In court documents, O’Hara alleged the defendants violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights, accusing them of unlawfully restricting free speech and initiating an unlawful seizure while using excessive force.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of defendants
Noun
  • As far afield as Malaysia and Thailand, fans celebrated the singer’s big day with parties of their own – hosting bachelorette-style fetes in honor of Swift’s wedding.
    — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • And, people will be outside in droves, at cookouts, parades, parties and fireworks shows.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of parties
Noun
  • In April, after another trial, a jury in Chicago ordered Abbott to pay four plaintiffs a total of $70 million.
    — David Hilzenrath, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • The upshot is that plaintiffs can’t sue the biotech company for not putting a cancer warning on the label of Roundup, the popular weed killer.
    — Zachary Karabell, Washington Post, 1 July 2026
Definition of plaintiffs

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Cite this Entry

“Litigants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/litigants. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on litigants

Nglish: Translation of litigants for Spanish Speakers

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