litany

noun

lit·​a·​ny ˈli-tə-nē 

ˈlit-nē

plural litanies

1

: a prayer consisting of a series of invocations and supplications by the leader with alternate responses by the congregation

the Litany of the Saints

2

a

: a resonant or repetitive chant

a litany of cheering phrases

—Herman Wouk

b

: a usually lengthy recitation or enumeration

a familiar litany of complaints

c

: a sizable series or set

a litany of problems

The drug has a litany of possible side effects.

Did you know?

A Short History of Litany

How do we love the word litany? Let us count the ways. We love its original 13th century meaning, still in use today, referring to a call-and-response prayer in which a series of lines are spoken alternately by a leader and a congregation. We love how litany has developed in the intervening centuries three figurative senses, and we love each of these as well: first, a sense meaning “repetitive chant”; next, the “lengthy recitation” sense owing to the repetitious—and sometimes interminable—nature of the original litany; and finally, an even broader sense referring to any sizeable series or set. Though litanies of this third sort tend to be unpleasant, we choose today to think of the loveliness found in the idea of “a litany of sonnets by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.”

Examples of litany in a Sentence

He has a litany of grievances against his former employer.

The team blamed its losses on a litany of injuries.

Recent Examples on the Web

The question is going to be if Trump successfully mobilized his base with his litany of conspiracies tonight. —Leah Feiger, WIRED, 11 Sep. 2024

Speaking behind a plexiglass barrier, Trump made a litany of promises — including ending the Russia-Ukraine war before being sworn in to office, abolishing the federal Department of Education and fending off World War III. —Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 7 Sep. 2024

That commitment to excellence has garnered Clark a litany of honors, including her most recent, NEDCO Female Entrepreneur Of The Year from her home country of Trinidad and Tobago. —Jasmine Browley, Essence, 1 Sep. 2024

This year, despite the litany of Labor Department findings, Star Farms was again allowed to bring H-2A workers to Colorado. —Sam Tabachnik, The Denver Post, 1 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English letanie, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin litania, from Late Greek litaneia, from Greek, entreaty, from litanos supplicant

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

litany

noun

lit·​a·​ny ˈlit-ᵊn-ē 

ˈlit-nē

plural litanies

: a prayer consisting of a series of lines spoken alternately by a leader and the congregation