complainant
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of complainant
1375–1425; late Middle English < Anglo-French compleignant (present participle of compleindre ). See complain, -ant
Explanation
In law, the person who accuses someone else of wrongdoing is sometimes called the complainant. You are the complainant if you sue your neighbor for building a chicken coop on your property. Although there are some technical differences in the way legal experts use the terms, a complainant is essentially the same as a plaintiff. They're both ways to refer to an accuser, or someone bringing an official grievance against someone else. Since the 15th century, complainant has been used to mean "one who makes a formal complaint in court, " from complain.
Vocabulary lists containing complainant
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
When Lorraine asked for the DPS to investigate the actions of officers, she discovered she had been labelled internally as a "fixated complainant".
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
But when questioned further, he said, the complainant claimed she "couldn't tell" what Lady Donaldson saw.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
The jury previously heard that Sir Jeffrey apologised to the complainant during this meeting.
From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026
Selfridge told the court the complainant was "very troubled".
From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026
Not only did it usually fill space and send the complainant away happy, it made us look honest.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
He will now face another court hearing on July 29-30, which could see him and the six other complainants ordered to pay substantial legal costs.
From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026
“The complainants portray complex situations of economic hardship and multidimensional cycles of poverty that do not stem from a single source,” the IFC said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
If rejected, the complainants will have 10 days to challenge the decision in court.
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
He said all the jury had to go on was the accounts of the complainants.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
He carefully kept out of the way of all Protestant complainants.
From The Huguenots in France by Smiles, Samuel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
