Word

lawsuit

noun C1

/ˈlɔːˌs(j)uːt/

Meanings

noun

a legal case brought to court by one party against another

noun

the act or threat of taking legal action in court against someone

Definition

A lawsuit is a legal case in which one person or organization sues another in court.

A lawsuit is a formal dispute that is taken to a court for a judge (and sometimes a jury) to decide. It usually begins when one side claims that the other caused harm or broke a legal duty. The court process can include filing documents, presenting evidence, and reaching a judgment or settlement.

Examples

The company settled the lawsuit after several months of negotiations.
She filed a lawsuit against the contractor for failing to complete the work as agreed.
They decided to avoid a lawsuit by using mediation and revising the contract terms.
I was surprised to learn that the dispute escalated into a lawsuit so quickly.

Common mistake

Learners often confuse "lawsuit" (a court case) with "law" (the rules) or "case" in general, and may say "make a lawsuit" instead of "file/bring a lawsuit."