summary judgment

noun

: judgment that may be granted upon a party's motion when the pleadings, discovery, and any affidavits show that there is no issue of material fact and that the party is entitled to judgment in its favor as a matter of law

Examples of summary judgment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In a March 11, 2025 decision, the court denied Dr. Olson’s motion for summary judgment based on the workers’ compensation defense. Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025 Cooper hasn't yet ruled on the motion for summary judgment. ArsTechnica, 21 May 2025 The Court finds that summary judgment is due to be GRANTED for Defendant Webb. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 May 2025 In the leadup to the settlement, Judge Frederick Chung denied the county’s motion to dismiss the case at the summary judgment phase that determines whether a lawsuit proceeds to trial. Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for summary judgment

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of summary judgment was in 1798

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Cite this Entry

“Summary judgment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/summary%20judgment. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Legal Definition

summary judgment

see judgment sense 1a

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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