complainant
Americannoun
noun
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.
Complainant Andrea Lovett said she decided to withdraw her complaint as her "sole intention" was to protest about Bob Vylan performing, and she had "no desire" to stop the 2026 festival.
From BBC • Sep. 17, 2025
“We found, based on a preponderance of the evidence, that the Complainant was the subject of unfavorable personnel actions from administration officials,” the inspector general report concluded.
From Washington Times • May 18, 2022
On several occasions after receiving money from Complainant 1, Mr. Boyle said, Ms. Zakharova transferred nearly identical amounts from an account in the United States to a bank in Russia.
From New York Times • Oct. 11, 2016
For example, it stated: “Two witnesses stated the Complainant reported to them that she tried to push the Respondent off her.”
From Slate • Dec. 7, 2014
Complainant was then helped up and assisted out of the house.
From Gossip in the First Decade of Victoria's Reign by Ashton, John
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.
