defendant

[dih-fen-duhnt, -dant]

noun

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

2. Obsolete.,  defender.

adjective

1. making one's defense; defending.

   a defendant corporation.

2. Obsolete.,  defensive.

defendant

/ dɪˈfɛndənt /

noun

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

adjective

1. making a defence; defending

defendant

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

Other Word Forms

• nondefendant noun
• undefendant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of defendant¹

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

Example Sentences

The defendants present at the hearing, including a student, a father and carer, admitted to sending messages but denied they were threatening or constituted harassment.

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The defendants failed to maintain a program for lawful storage on-site, leading in some cases to hazardous waste leaking while in containers, according to court documents.

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The Salehpours have paid the company more than $1 million over three years, according to testimony in court and filings by attorneys for some of the defendants.

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Zillow has been named as a defendant in several other lawsuits filed this year.

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The complaint in Villanueva’s lawsuit filed in June said it was an “attempt to clear his name, vindicate his reputation, and be made whole for the emotional distress defendants’ actions have caused him.”

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Related Words

• litigant 
• offender 
• prisoner 
• suspect