pleito

Pleito is a noun used in Spanish and Portuguese with meanings related to law and dispute. In general, it denotes a legal action, a court case, or a dispute that is to be resolved through a formal process. It can also refer to a formal claim or petition made to a public authority, depending on the jurisdiction and context. In everyday language, pleito can also mean a quarrel or argument, especially in some regions, though this sense is informal.

In Spanish, pleito most commonly refers to a lawsuit or legal dispute, whether civil or criminal. Legal texts may refer to “pleito civil” or “pleito penal,” and the expression “iniciar un pleito” or “llevar un pleito” describes filing or pursuing the case in court. The term appears in historical and contemporary sources and is used in journalism to denote court cases.

In Portuguese, pleito frequently denotes a formal request or petition to a public body, as well as a legal action. Common phrases include “pleito trabalhista” (labor lawsuit) and “pleito administrativo” (administrative appeal). In this sense, pleito can indicate either the act of filing a complaint or the proceeding itself, depending on context.

Etymology and context: pleito is inherited from the Iberian Romance languages and is found across legal vocabularies in Spain, Portugal, and Latin American jurisdictions influenced by these languages. See also: lawsuits, civil action, petition.