A class-action is a kind of lawsuit: one case brought by a group of people, for themselves and for others who have the same problem. If a company sells a product that hurts many customers, those customers may not each go to court alone; they may join, or be spoken for, in one class-action.

A class-action is a kind of lawsuit是一種官司： by a group of people由一群人 for themselves為自己、 and for others who have the same problem也為其他有同樣問題的人 brought提起 one case的一個案子。If如果 a company一家公司 sells賣了 a product that hurts many customers一個傷害到很多顧客的產品， those customers那些顧客 may not each go to court alone可以不必每個人單獨上法院； they他們 may join可以加入， or be spoken for或讓人代表自己， in one class-action都在同一件 class-action 裡。

The “class” here is not a school class. It is a legal class: a set of people in the same boat. The “action” is a legal action — a case in court.

The "class" here這裡的 "class" is not不是 a school class學校的班級。It它 is a legal class是法律上的類別： a set of people in the same boat一群在同一條船上的人。The "action" is是 a legal action法律行動 — a case in court一件在法院裡的案子。

You will often hear the full phrase class-action lawsuit. It is a formal, legal word, used in the news when many people sue together. In the United States this kind of case is especially well known; other countries have similar tools, sometimes under different names.

You你 will often hear常會聽到 the full phrase完整的說法 class-action lawsuit。It它 is a formal, legal word是正式的法律用語， when many people sue together在很多人一起提告時 used in the news會出現在新聞裡。In the United States在美國 this kind of case這種案件 is especially well known特別有名； other countries其他國家 have similar tools也有類似的工具， sometimes under different names有時用不同的名稱。