litigant
gb/lˈɪtɪɡənt/ us/lˈɪtɪɡənt/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
legal
C1
role
1
party in a lawsuit
A person or organization involved in a legal case in court.
Usage pattern:
[litigant] in [case/lawsuit/proceedings]
Common mistake:
Do not use litigant for a lawyer; it refers to the party in the case, not the legal representative.
Synonyms
party (The standard legal term for a person or organization on one side of a case.)
|
claimant (Usually the person bringing a claim, especially in UK legal contexts.)
|
plaintiff (Specifically the party who starts a civil lawsuit, especially in US legal contexts.)
|
defendant (Specifically the party being sued or accused.)
Antonyms
nonparty (Someone or something that is not formally a party to the case.)
|
bystander (A person present or affected but not directly involved in the legal dispute.)
Collocations
a litigant in a case
|a private litigant
|a potential litigant
|a successful litigant
|an unsuccessful litigant
|both litigants
|the rights of litigants
|litigants in court
|represent a litigant
|advise a litigant
Themes
law
|courts
|disputes
Examples
- The judge reminded both litigants that all evidence had to be submitted by Friday.
- Large companies can afford legal teams that many individual litigants cannot.
- The new online system is designed to make court procedures easier for litigants.
Learner examples
- Each litigant told the court their side of the story.
- A litigant is a person in a court case.
Grammar
Dictionary form
litigant
IPA
GB/lˈɪtɪɡənt/
US/lˈɪtɪɡənt/
Syllables & stress
lit - ig - ant (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (lit)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: litigant
- Plural: litigants
Expressions
litigant in person
1/lˈɪtɪɡənt ˈɪn pˈɚsən/
fixed phrase
legal
UK litigant without lawyer
In UK legal English, a person in a court case who does not have a lawyer.
Examples
- Guidance notes are available for litigants in person.
- As a litigant in person, she had to prepare the documents herself.
pro se litigant
1/pɹˈoʊ sˈeɪ lˈɪtɪɡənt/
fixed phrase
legal
US litigant without lawyer
In US English, a person in a court case who acts without a lawyer.
Examples
- The clerk could explain filing procedures to the pro se litigant but could not give legal advice.
- The judge allowed extra time because the appellant was a pro se litigant.
repeat litigant
1/ɹɪpˈit lˈɪtɪɡənt/
fixed phrase
legal
frequent court-case participant
A person or organization that is often involved in court cases.
Examples
- Insurance companies are often repeat litigants and know the court process well.
- The study compared outcomes for one-time plaintiffs and repeat litigants.
self-represented litigant
1/sˈɛlf ɹˌɛpɹɪzˈɛntɪd lˈɪtɪɡənt/
fixed phrase
legal
litigant without a lawyer
A person in a court case who does not have a lawyer and speaks for themselves.
Examples
- The court provides plain-language forms for self-represented litigants.
- Self-represented litigants often need help understanding court deadlines.
vexatious litigant
1/vɛksˈeɪʃəs lˈɪtɪɡənt/
fixed phrase
legal
abusive repeated lawsuit filer
Someone who keeps bringing weak or unfair court cases, often to cause trouble.
Examples
- After years of baseless claims, the court declared him a vexatious litigant.
- Vexatious litigants may be required to get permission before filing new lawsuits.