litigious

From Middle English litigious, from Latin lītigiōsus. Compare Middle French litigieux.

• IPA^(key): /lɪˈtɪd͡ʒəs/

litigious (comparative more litigious, superlative most litigious)

1. Of or relating to litigation.
   • 1732 March 6 (Gregorian calendar; date written), [Jonathan Swift], Considerations upon Two Bills Sent Down from the R H the H of L to the Hble H of C Relating to the Clergy of Id, London: A. Moore, , published 1732, →OCLC, page 18:

     This vvould of Neceſſity, breed an infinite Number of Brangles and litigious Suits in the Spiritual Courts, and put the vvretched Paſtor at perpetual Variance vvith his vvhole Pariſh.

2. Inclined to engage in lawsuits.
   • 2011 March 30, Barry Estabrook, “Echoing Big Agribusiness, Farmers Sue Monsanto”, in The Atlantic‎:

     Tearing a page out of Monsanto's own playbook, the Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT), an advocacy group whose mandate is to represent the public's interest in the patent system, filed suit (PDF) on behalf of 60 organic farmers, small farm organizations, and seed businesses this week against the litigious agrichemical and genetically modified (GM) seed giant.

   • 2024, Johathan Sumption, The president’s crimes, in: Prospect, August 27 2024

     The United States is a litigious society.

3. Argumentative or combative.

• litigatious
• litiginous