legal action

[lee-guhl ak-shuhn] / ˈli gəl ˈæk ʃən /

NOUN

judicial proceeding

Synonyms

STRONGEST

lawsuit legal proceeding litigation

WEAK

court case trial

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Pentagon listed Alibaba as aiding China’s military; the company denies this and plans legal action.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

If the attorney general’s office finds that the merger violated antitrust law, it could pursue legal action against Compass and seek potential penalties including fines or even selling off parts of the company.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

An ex-Facebook executive sat in silence during a panel discussion about her tell-all book about the social media giant because of ongoing legal action by her former bosses at Meta.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

Patagonia's legal action alleges Pattie Gonia competes "directly with the products and advocacy" upon which the firm built its brand.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

My first letter, Dear Mrs. O’Brien, Inasmuch as you have not seen fit to pay me what you owe me I may be forced to resort to legal action.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt