defendant

[ dih-fen-duhnt or, especially in court for 1, -dant ]

/ dɪˈfɛn dənt or, especially in court for 1, -dænt /

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See synonyms for defendant on Thesaurus.com

noun

Law. a person, company, etc., against whom a claim or charge is brought in a court (opposed to plaintiff).

Obsolete. defender.

adjective

making one's defense; defending: a defendant corporation.

Obsolete. defensive.

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Origin of defendant

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

OTHER WORDS FROM defendant

non·de·fend·ant, nounun·de·fend·ant, adjective

Words nearby defendant

defederalize, defence, defence in depth, defence mechanism, defend, defendant, defender, defender of the bond, Defender of the Faith, defenestrate, defenestration

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use defendant in a sentence

The defendants, wearing helmets, vests and tactical gear marked with fluorescent orange tape, “appeared to gesture and communicate to one another” to coordinate efforts during and after forcing entry to the Capitol, the FBI alleged.
Five more charged in Capitol riot allegedly teamed with Kansas City Proud Boys|Spencer Hsu, Rachel Weiner|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
Webster’s attorney, Kevin Karpinski, and attorneys for the other defendants did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The first state to pass a law protecting police accused of misconduct may also be the first to repeal it.|Ovetta Wiggins|February 9, 2021|Washington Post
It will certainly be interesting to see how the defendants frame their responses.
Smartmatic files $2.7 billion defamation suit against Fox News over election fraud claims|Jeremy Barr, Elahe Izadi|February 4, 2021|Washington Post
“It appears the defendant does not believe in the rule of law and is a threat to people in the Capitol building,” the judge said.
N.M. official who warned of ‘blood running out of’ U.S. Capitol jailed pending trial in Jan. 6 riot case|Spencer Hsu|February 2, 2021|Washington Post

Essentially, the defendant was radicalized to the point where he wanted to act out, it wasn’t talk.
The Boogaloo Bois Have Guns, Criminal Records and Military Training. Now They Want to Overthrow the Government.|by A.C. Thompson, ProPublica, and Lila Hassan and Karim Hajj, FRONTLINE|February 1, 2021|ProPublica
“Defendant moved his hands in a manner so as to avoid the application of handcuffs to his wrists,” the complaint says.
Protesters Slimed This Good Samaritan Cop|Michael Daly|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The complaint continues, “During this period of time, defendant escaped police custody.”
Protesters Slimed This Good Samaritan Cop|Michael Daly|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They obtained a gag order against the defendant and his lawyers restricting what they could say about the case for several months.
Sentencing Looms for Barrett Brown, Advocate for “Anonymous”|Kevin M. Gallagher|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“He might want 50 of this size and 40 of these,” said Crowder, who has been named as a defendant in dozens of lawsuits.
Patients Screwed in Spine Surgery ‘Scam’|The Center for Investigative Reporting|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“The defendant told me he did not want to go back so jail,” the affidavit says.
The Muslim Convert Behind America’s First Workplace Beheading|Michael Daly|September 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In a trial in the King's Bench, Mr. Erskine, counsel for the defendant, was charged by his opponent with traveling out of his way.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
He was defendant in the breach of promise suit brought by a notorious London actress, then playing in a popular revue.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
The commissioners were unanimously of opinion it was a good fifteen-penny copy of the defendant's countenance.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
It is enough if the defendant induces an ill opinion to be held of the plaintiff, or to make him contemptible or ridiculous.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
The other defendant, being in good health and not being a ward of the Government, would have to stand committed to jail for trial.
Mystery Ranch|Arthur Chapman

British Dictionary definitions for defendant

defendant

/ (dɪˈfɛndənt) /

noun

a person against whom an action or claim is brought in a court of lawCompare plaintiff

adjective

making a defence; defending

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for defendant

defendant

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

defendant

Origin of defendant

OTHER WORDS FROM defendant

Words nearby defendant

Words related to defendant

How to use defendant in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for defendant

Cultural definitions for defendant