Noun | 1. | ![]() legal proceeding, proceeding, proceedings - (law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked custody battle - litigation to settle custody of the children of a divorced couple vexatious litigation - litigation shown to have been instituted maliciously and without probable cause; "he got an injunction against vexatious litigation by his enemies" law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" |