Frivolous
Frivolous: Lacking any arguable basis in law or fact. Courts may sanction frivolous filings under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 and similar state rules, and 26 U.S.C. § 6702 imposes a $5,000 penalty for frivolous tax submissions. A frivolous argument is one a court finds has no legal basis; the label does not limit a person's right to hold or discuss a view.
What frivolous means
Put simply, frivolous is part of the working vocabulary of a civil case. The short definition above covers the usual meaning. Still, a specific rule, statute or contract can give it a narrower meaning. For that reason, check how it is used in your own documents.
Where frivolous comes up
The term is used across many kinds of cases. For example, you may see it in pleadings, motions and court orders. To see it in context, browse the motions and procedures library or the Learn the Law topics.
How to research the term
To research frivolous, begin with the rule, statute or contract where the word is used. Each one can give it a slightly different meaning. Then compare that text with how courts in your area have applied it. Also check the local rules of your court, since they can add requirements. If your case is in state court, the state rules control. So start with our state procedures guide to find them. In the end, always confirm that the source you rely on is current.
You can read the current federal court rules online for free.
Related legal terms
- Forward flow agreement: a contract under which a seller agrees to sell, and a buyer to buy, receivables on a recurring schedule on terms set in advance.
- Fourteenth Amendment: the 1868 amendment that made all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to its jurisdiction, "citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside," and that forbids states to abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens, deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law, or deny any person the equal protection of the laws.
- Fractional reserve banking: a banking system in which banks hold only part of their deposits as reserves and lend the rest.
- Fraud: a knowing misrepresentation or concealment of a material fact, made to induce another person to act, on which the person justifiably relies to his or her harm.
Why precise terms matter
Legal words often look like everyday words, but they can carry a precise meaning. Because of that, a small misreading can change how you understand a deadline, a duty or a right. Our glossary keeps each definition short and links it to the procedures where it matters.
Sources
Sources last reviewed: 2026-10-24
Lawtopolis provides legal information and education, not legal advice. Using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and court rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time; verify every authority against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction about your situation.