litigious

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adjective li·ti·gious \lə-ˈti-jəs, li-\

Definition of litigious

1a : disputatious, contentious in a litigious moodb : prone to engage in lawsuits an increasingly litigious society
2 : subject to litigation not known to be litigious when purchased — James Muirhead
3 : of, relating to, or marked by litigation a litigious situation

litigiously

adverb

litigiousness

noun

See litigious defined for English-language learners

Examples of litigious in a Sentence

a very litigious group of people
this litigious age in which we live

Recent Examples of litigious from the Web

Employees who leave or are laid off regularly sue employers over the slightest of transgressions of the labour code, spurred on by litigious lawyers.

— The Economist, "Bye-bye, BenitoAn overhaul of Brazilian labour law should spur job creation," 20 July 2017
In 2014, the company cemented its place as the nation's most litigious patent troll of the previous year.

— joe mullin, Ars Technica, "Two judges smack down notorious patent holder “Shipping and Transit” in one week," 13 July 2017
Attorneys are advising employers to get their ducks in a row because while the commission might not target employers, a litigious employee might.

— alexia elejalde-ruiz, chicagotribune.com, "Employers call new Cook County sick leave law an administrative nightmare," 29 June 2017
Oliver noted on the show that Murray Energy has a litigious past, and last month sued the New York Times for libel.

— maria puente, USA TODAY, "Murray Energy sues John Oliver, HBO over coal-industry story," 22 June 2017
In his previous role as Oklahoma’s attorney general, Pruitt had long-standing ties to oil and gas companies and a litigious history fighting the EPA.

— brady dennis, The Denver Post, "EPA chief vows to speed the nation’s Superfund cleanups; communities wonder how," 18 June 2017
And given the public’s (or at least TV attorneys’) litigious nature, no one with any intelligence is going to sell and deliver a vehicle under an active safety recall that’s unrepaired.

— ed wallace, star-telegram.com, "Insurance: Consumer Bill of Rights," 16 June 2017
Mr. Zhang has had occasional brushes with Chinese labor laws, although no more than many employers in this increasingly litigious society.

— keith bradsher, New York Times, "Chinese Maker of Ivanka Trump’s Shoes Looks for Cheaper Labor," 1 June 2017
Sessions with lawyers are nothing new for this litigious ex-businessman; but with infinitely higher stakes, this was different.

— gloria borger, CNN, "Trump, home all alone," 30 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'litigious.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of litigious

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin litigiosus, from litigium dispute, from litigare

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First Known Use: 14th century

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Other Legal Terms

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LITIGIOUS Defined for English Language Learners

litigious

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adjective

Definition of litigious for English Language Learners

: too ready or eager to sue someone or something in a court of law : tending or likely to engage in lawsuits

Law Dictionary

litigious

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adjective li·ti·gious \li-ˈti-jəs\

Legal Definition of litigious

1 : prone to engage in lawsuits or legal maneuvers especially to an excessive degree a litigious pro se prisoner … filed fifty-one cases — In re Oliver, 682 F.2d 443 (1982)
2 : subject to litigation acquired only a possible litigious claim — Wells v. Joseph, 95 So. 2d 843 (1957)
3 : of, relating to, or marked by litigation