frivolous

From Latin frīvolus (“silly, empty, trifling, frivolous, worthless”), with the ending modified to match -ous.

• IPA^(key): /ˈfɹɪv.əl.əs/
• Hyphenation: friv‧o‧lous

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frivolous (comparative more frivolous, superlative most frivolous)

1. Silly, especially at an inappropriate time or in an inappropriate manner.
2. Of little weight or importance; not worth notice; slight; trivial.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:insignificant

3. (law, said of a lawsuit) Having no reasonable prospect of success because its claim is without merit, lacking a supporting legal or factual basis, while the filing party is, or should be, aware of this.
   • 1996 August 31, Paul F. Waldner, President-Elect, Houston Trial Lawyers Association, “Viewpoints”, in Houston Chronicle‎:

     There is no easy definition for the phrase 'frivolous lawsuit,' but I imagine any claim for damages where the injuries are minimal or where the basis for the defendant's liability is hard to believe, might qualify as frivolous.

   • 2005, Factcheck.org:

     One of the major cost drivers in the delivery of health care are these junk and frivolous lawsuits.

• frivolent
• frivolously
• frivolousness

• frivol
• frivolity

• frivolous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• frivolous in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911