defendant

American  

[dih-fen-duhnt, -dant] / dɪˈfɛn dənt, -dænt /

noun

1. Law.  a person, company, etc., against whom a claim or charge is brought in a court (plaintiff ).

2. Obsolete.  defender.

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adjective

1. making one's defense; defending.

   a defendant corporation.

2. Obsolete.  defensive.

defendant British  

/ dɪˈfɛndənt /

noun

1. a person against whom an action or claim is brought in a court of law Compare plaintiff

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adjective

1. making a defence; defending

defendant Cultural  

1. The party that is being sued in court. (Compare plaintiff.)

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Other Word Forms

• nondefendant noun
• undefendant adjective

Etymology

Origin of defendant

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English defendaunt, from Anglo-French ( Middle French, Old French defendant ). See defend, -ant

Example Sentences

The judge disqualified Essalyi from participating in the cases of the defendants at issue.

From The Wall Street Journal

In L.A. and across the country, defendants accused of assaulting federal officers have won acquittals or had charges dropped.

From Los Angeles Times

He has been testifying as a defendant in his trial since last December while Israel has been at war, and hasn’t been convicted.

From The Wall Street Journal

A spokesperson for the defendant claimed he had not fully understood the contents of the deportation order because he had not had an interpreter in court in 2020 and 2022.

From BBC

She said that while three defendants were acquitted by the appeals court, it had increased others' sentences.

From BBC

Related Words

• litigant
• offender
• prisoner
• suspect