litany

noun

lit·​a·​ny ˈli-tə-nē 

ˈlit-nē

plural litanies

1

: a prayer consisting of a series of invocations and supplications by the leader with alternate responses by the congregation

the Litany of the Saints

2

a

: a resonant or repetitive chant

a litany of cheering phrases

—Herman Wouk

b

: a usually lengthy recitation or enumeration

a familiar litany of complaints

c

: a sizable series or set

a litany of problems

The drug has a litany of possible side effects.

Did you know?

A Short History of Litany

How do we love the word litany? Let us count the ways. We love its original 13th century meaning, still in use today, referring to a call-and-response prayer in which a series of lines are spoken alternately by a leader and a congregation. We love how litany has developed in the intervening centuries three figurative senses, and we love each of these as well: first, a sense meaning “repetitive chant”; next, the “lengthy recitation” sense owing to the repetitious—and sometimes interminable—nature of the original litany; and finally, an even broader sense referring to any sizeable series or set. Though litanies of this third sort tend to be unpleasant, we choose today to think of the loveliness found in the idea of “a litany of sonnets by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.”

Examples of litany in a Sentence

He has a litany of grievances against his former employer.

The team blamed its losses on a litany of injuries.

Recent Examples on the Web

The litany of update issues affecting Windows 11 users comes as an awkward time, as Microsoft, its OEM partners and even government security agencies urge Windows 10 users to upgrade to the new OS. —Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025

The idea is to bring together a litany of talented athletes, current and retired, to cultivate a supportive network within the women’s basketball association. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 18 July 2025

Lawrence has long favored the label’s luxe-feeling, relaxed pants in a litany of colors. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 18 July 2025

Afterward, the agency faced a litany of criticisms and multiple formal investigations into its practices as many questioned how Crooks could come so close to carrying out the assassination successfully and ultimately charged the Secret Service with enabling the attack. —Emily Mae Czachor july 13, CBS News, 13 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English letanie, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin litania, from Late Greek litaneia, from Greek, entreaty, from litanos supplicant

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

litany

noun

lit·​a·​ny ˈlit-ᵊn-ē 

ˈlit-nē

plural litanies

: a prayer consisting of a series of lines spoken alternately by a leader and the congregation