Litigant Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Litigant, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Litigant?

(n) Litigant is the parties involved in a law suit as plaintiff, petitioner, defendant, respondent, cross-complainant or cross defendant. A litigant is a person interested in the lawsuit as for the cause or against it

History and Meaning of Litigant

Litigant is a legal term used to identify the parties involved in a lawsuit or legal proceeding. In a legal dispute, both parties are commonly referred to as litigants. This term applies to all parties involved in a lawsuit, including the plaintiff, petitioner, defendant, respondent, cross-complainant, or cross-defendant. A litigant could be an individual or a corporate entity that has a direct interest in the legal matter at hand.

The history of the term litigant can be traced back to the 15th century, where it was used to describe a plaintiff or defendant in a lawsuit. Over the years, as the legal system evolved, litigant became a more commonly used term, and its meaning was expanded to encompass all parties involved in a legal dispute. Today, the term is an essential part of legal language and used in many cases on a regular basis.

Examples of Litigant

  • In a divorce proceeding, the wife and husband are both litigants.
  • If a company is suing its former employee for breach of contract, the company is the litigant in that case.
  • A tenant who files a lawsuit against their landlord for breach of contract is a litigant.
  • In a personal injury case, the plaintiff and the defendant are both considered litigants.

Legal Terms Similar to Litigant

  • Defendant: A person or entity who is being accused of a wrongdoing in a legal proceeding.
  • Plaintiff: A person or entity who initiates a lawsuit in court.
  • Petitioner: A person who makes a formal request in court or to another authority.
  • Respondent: A person or entity who responds to a legal action or a lawsuit.