pre-litigation
|pre-lit-i-ga-tion|
🇺🇸
/ˌpriːˌlɪtəˈɡeɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌpriːˌlɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən/
before a lawsuit
Etymology
'pre-litigation' originates as a compound from the prefix 'pre-' (from Latin 'prae') meaning 'before' and 'litigation' (from Latin/Medieval Latin 'litigatio') referring to a legal dispute or lawsuit.
'litigation' comes from Latin 'litigatio' (from 'litigare', to dispute, and ultimately 'lis, litis' meaning 'lawsuit'); it passed into Old/Middle French and Middle English as 'litigation', and the modern compound 'pre-litigation' developed by combining the prefix 'pre-' with 'litigation' in modern legal English.
Initially, 'litigation' meant 'the carrying on of a lawsuit'; the compound 'pre-litigation' later emerged to denote actions or a period occurring before such lawsuits, i.e., activities intended to avoid or prepare for formal legal proceedings.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the period, process, or set of activities that occur before a formal lawsuit is filed (e.g., demands, negotiations, settlement talks, or investigations).
Pre-litigation often includes demand letters and settlement negotiations aimed at avoiding court.
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Adjective 1
occurring or taking place before formal litigation; relating to negotiations, investigation, or other actions undertaken prior to filing a lawsuit.
The parties engaged in pre-litigation discussions to explore a settlement before going to court.
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Last updated: 2026/01/04 22:05