res judicata

noun | \ ˈrēz-ˌjü-di-ˈkä-tə, ˈrās-ˌyü- \ | res ju·di·ca·ta

1. a : a broad doctrine in civil litigation that requires and includes the barring of relitigation of settled matters under merger, bar, collateral estoppel, and direct estoppel : former adjudication — compare bar 3b, estoppel by judgment at estoppel 2a, merger 4

   b : a specific doctrine that precludes relitigation of claims and issues arising from the same cause of action between the same parties and their privies after a final judgment on the merits by a competent tribunal or after some other final determination having the same effect res judicata precludes only subsequent suits on the same cause of action; collateral estoppel may preclude relitigation of issues in later suits on any cause of action —J. H. Friedenthal et al. — called also claim preclusion

   a : a broad doctrine in civil litigation that requires and includes the barring of relitigation of settled matters under merger, bar, collateral estoppel, and direct estoppel : former adjudication — compare bar 3b, estoppel by judgment at estoppel 2a, merger 4

   b : a specific doctrine that precludes relitigation of claims and issues arising from the same cause of action between the same parties and their privies after a final judgment on the merits by a competent tribunal or after some other final determination having the same effect res judicata precludes only subsequent suits on the same cause of action; collateral estoppel may preclude relitigation of issues in later suits on any cause of action —J. H. Friedenthal et al. — called also claim preclusion

3. : an affirmative defense based on res judicata