Litigious is a word that describes someone who is prone to filing lawsuits, or something that involves legal disputes. Its spelling is unique due to the pronunciation of its middle syllable. The "gi" in "litigious" is pronounced with a "j" sound, as in "ridge." IPA phonetic transcription would note this as /lɪˈtɪdʒəs/. This unusual spelling, therefore, reflects the unfamiliar pronunciation of the word's middle syllable, providing a challenge for those who are learning to read and write in English.
Litigious is an adjective that describes a person or situation characterized by a tendency to engage in lawsuits or legal disputes. It refers to individuals or entities that are inclined to resort to legal action in order to resolve conflicts or protect their rights, often without consideration for alternative methods of settling disputes. The term is derived from the Latin word "litigiosus," which means "contentious" or "quarrelsome."
A litigious person is someone who frequently initiates or becomes involved in legal proceedings, often striving to exercise their legal rights to the fullest extent. They may display an inclination to sue or take legal action as a means of seeking recourse or asserting their position, even in matters that could potentially be resolved through negotiation or alternative dispute resolution processes. In a similar note, a litigious situation refers to one that is likely to result in or involve legal disputes or controversies.
The word litigious carries a connotation of dispute-fueled behavior, suggesting a particular inclination towards confrontation and a reliance on the formalities and processes of the legal system. It is worth noting that being litigious does not necessarily indicate a lack of legitimacy in seeking legal remedies; rather, it emphasizes a predisposition to resorting to litigation as a primary means for settling conflicts.
Given to carrying on lawsuits; contentious.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "litigious" has its origins in the Latin word "lītigiosus", which is derived from "lītigium", meaning "lawsuit" or "contention". The Latin word itself comes from "lītigāre", which combines "lītis" (meaning "dispute" or "lawsuit") and "agere" (meaning "to drive" or "to carry on"). Over time, the Latin word "lītigiosus" gave rise to the Old French term "litigieux", which eventually evolved into the Modern English word "litigious".