PoliticsAugust 20, 2026

outlitigate

OWT-li-ti-gate

Definition

To overwhelm or exhaust an opponent in a legal conflict by using superior financial resources, time-consuming procedural maneuvers, and extensive legal tactics.

Etymology

Formed in English by combining the prefix 'out-' (meaning to surpass or exceed in action) with the verb 'litigate' (to carry on a lawsuit). It emerged in modern legal and business contexts to describe the strategic use of superior legal power to defeat an opponent.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe how the government department uses its vast resources to drag out legal proceedings, aiming to force an individual veteran to abandon their legitimate claims.

Opinion: Military veterans betrayed - pensions denied, dignity trampled, and justice demanded

Read the full article ↗

defenceWeb

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