plaintiff

American  

[pleyn-tif] / ˈpleɪn tɪf /

noun

Law.

1. a person who brings suit in a court (defendant ).

---

plaintiff British  

/ ˈpleɪntɪf /

noun

1. Now replaced by: claimant.  (formerly) a person who brings a civil action in a court of law Compare defendant

---

plaintiff Cultural  

1. The party that institutes a suit in a court. The person or entity the plaintiff sues is the defendant.

---

Other Word Forms

• plaintiffship noun

Etymology

Origin of plaintiff

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English plaintif “complaining person,” noun use of the adjective; plaintive

Example Sentences

One plaintiff who sued, according to a court filing last year, is a Taiwanese woman with a student visa who had lived in the U.S. for 12 years and was applying for a green card.

From The Wall Street Journal

Michael Farris, general counsel for National Religious Broadcasters, the lead plaintiff in the case, said that he intended to appeal.

From The Wall Street Journal

Many have sued AI firms, alleging copyright infringement; in fact, Disney is a plaintiff in some of that litigation.

From Los Angeles Times

A judge bounces the notorious plaintiffs firm from the J&J trial for sleazy behavior.

From The Wall Street Journal

There’s a reason the plaintiffs bar has a reputation for taking ethical shortcuts, and too often it goes unpunished.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• complainant
• litigant
• prosecutor