defendant

[ dih-fen-duhnt -dant ]

noun

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

adjective

1. making one's defense; defending:

   a defendant corporation.

2. Obsolete. defensive.

defendant

/ dɪˈfɛndənt /

noun

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

adjective

1. making a defence; defending

defendant

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

Other Words From

• nonde·fendant noun
• unde·fendant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of defendant¹

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

Example Sentences

Exemplary damages are punitive damages which are to punish the defendant.

From BBC

Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC told the court all three defendants were responsible for the 10-year-old's death, which happened amid a "culture of violence" which was "normalised" in the family household.

From BBC

According to the indictment, the defendants, in keeping track of their bribes to Indian officials, used “code names” for different participants in the scheme.

From New York Times

“Don’t think that he’s not been asked by lots of criminal defendants to take on their appeals,” Martin said at the teach-in.

From Los Angeles Times

Out of more than 1,500 criminal defendants charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• litigant
• offender
• prisoner
• suspect