# lis

/ˈɫɪs/ (US) · /lˈɪs/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lis
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a legal case that is currently being decided in court. It is a formal word used by lawyers to say that a lawsuit is still active.

For teachers: a pending legal action or suit. Often used in the context of 'lis pendens', a formal notice that a property is subject to a legal dispute.

## Examples

- The property cannot be sold while the lis is active.
- The attorney filed a notice of lis pendens to warn potential buyers that the land ownership was being contested in court.
- The doctrine of lis pendens ensures that the court's eventual judgment remains effective by preventing the defendant from transferring the disputed asset to a third party during the proceedings.

## Usage notes

- Typically appears in the Latin phrase 'lis pendens'; the plural form is 'lites'.

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