defendant

American  

[dih-fen-duhnt, -dant] / dɪˈfɛn dənt, -dænt /

noun

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

2. Obsolete. defender.

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adjective

1. making one's defense; defending.

   a defendant corporation.

2. Obsolete. defensive.

defendant British  

/ dɪˈfɛndənt /

noun

1. a person against whom an action or claim is brought in a court of law Compare plaintiff

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adjective

1. making a defence; defending

defendant Cultural  

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

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Other Word Forms

• nondefendant noun
• undefendant adjective

Etymology

Origin of defendant

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

Example Sentences

His words were translated into Russian for the defendants.

From BBC

The judge called the evidence against both defendants "overwhelming".

From BBC

The military said the indictments were withdrawn in part due to "exceptional circumstances that negatively affected the ability to prosecute the case while also preserving the right for a fair trial of the defendants".

From BBC

Four other defendants were given between 19 and 22 years, state media reported.

From BBC

Nichols said "the government's framing and narrative has been to pit survivors and defendants against each other in a way I think is deeply damaging".

From BBC

Related Words

• litigant
• offender
• prisoner
• suspect