respondent

[ri-spon-duhnt]

noun

1. a person who responds or makes reply.

2. Law.,  a defendant, especially in appellate and divorce proceedings.

adjective

1. giving a response; answering; responsive.

2. Law.,  being a respondent.

3. Psychology.,  of or relating to behavior that occurs consistently in response to a particular stimulus.

4. Obsolete.,  corresponding.

respondent

/ rɪˈspɒndənt /

noun

1. law a person against whom a petition, esp in a divorce suit, or appeal is brought

adjective

1. a less common word for responsive

Word History and Origins

Origin of respondent¹

1520–30; < Latin respondent- (stem of respondēns ), present participle of respondēre. See respond, -ent

Example Sentences

More than nine out of 10 respondents said conflicts such as those in the Middle East and Ukraine, or the political turmoil in the United States, did not put them off travelling in general.

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A poll conducted by Prof Pepin-Neff at Bondi Beach two years ago found three quarters of respondents would swim at the beach even if shark nets were taken out.

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A plurality of undecided respondents said they had an unfavorable view of Frey at 35%, while indicating that they don’t know his opponents.

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More than a third of parents said their child was safer on their commute to school with their phone and 80% of child respondents said they were safer with their phone.

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The survey found the biggest worry for respondents was "prices rising faster than wages", with 57% agreeing.

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Related Words

• defendant 
• prisoner