What does litigable mean?
Litigable is a formal legal adjective meaning that a claim, dispute, or issue is capable of being decided through litigation. A matter may be described as litigable when it involves competing legal rights, unresolved factual questions, or a disagreement that court proceedings could settle. The word is not limited to matters that have already reached court: it can also identify issues that might become litigable if negotiations fail. In contracts and statutes, the term is often used to distinguish legally contestable questions from matters resolved solely by agreement, administrative procedure, or private discretion. Although most closely related to litigation, litigable is not synonymous with difficult, contentious, or necessarily favorable. Its usefulness lies in identifying the kind of disagreement for which the legal system provides a formal adjudicative process.
adjectiveCapable of being litigated or settled through legal proceedings. It refers to a dispute, claim, or issue that is sufficiently contested to be decided by a court.
- Capable of being litigated in court; subject to legal determination.
"The parties agreed that the ownership question was too complex and litigable to resolve informally."
"The parties agreed that the ownership question was too complex and litigable to resolve informally."
"The contract contains a clause that identifies disputes as litigable in the appropriate jurisdiction."
Litigable is the legal equivalent of a dispute that has outgrown the conversation and demands a courtroom.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does litigable come from?
The word was formed in the 19th century from litigate, which comes from Latin litigare, meaning “to dispute in court.” Latin litigare is in turn associated with lis or litis, meaning “lawsuit” or “legal dispute.” English subsequently developed several related forms, including litigation, litigator, litigious, and litigable.
Related word forms
How litigable is actually used
Chiefly formal legal vocabulary, used especially in contracts, legislation, and litigation. It can describe a claim, issue, dispute, or question, but it does not mean that a matter has actually been brought to court.
Easily confused with litigable
A litigable dispute is one that can be litigated, whereas a litigious person is inclined to bring legal disputes.
Litigable describes something that may be decided in court, while legible describes writing or text that can be read.