defendant
Americannoun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of defendant
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English defendaunt, from Anglo-French ( Middle French, Old French defendant ). See defend, -ant
Explanation
In court, the person who gets sued or accused is called a defendant — they have to defend their innocence or reputation. One thing no one wants to be is a defendant: that means someone sued you, which could cost you a boatload of money. Other defendants are accused of crimes, which is even worse, because you could end up in jail. Turn on any TV show about lawyers, and you'll see some of them defending the defendant, and others trying to convict the defendant. Defendants are definitely on the defensive.
Vocabulary lists containing defendant
Monster
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Commonly Misspelled Words, List 6
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Excerpts from "Jacobson v. Massachusetts"
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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:
In the U.S., federal prosecutors can recommend lighter sentences if a defendant substantially aids in the recovery of stolen property.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
"The evidence before me clearly shows that the claimant, smitten by the defendant, had showered her with expensive gifts during their relationship," the judge said.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
Ho is the only defendant to plead guilty to the prosecutions.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
“This defendant was entrusted by the community with safeguarding money raised for young adults. She violated that trust and is now a charged felon,” Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026
He’d also, he said, been at Livorno and Luciana and seen the 442nd—the Nisei regiment to which the defendant had been attached—in action along the Gothic Line.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
Faculty organizers said the event addressed questions central to the law school’s mission, including the rights of defendants and limits on government power.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
Taraneh, like several defendants in the case, worked in a shoe shop on Shohada Square.
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
Under Utah law, a plaintiff must notify government defendants of a claim of loss, in order for a lawsuit to be considered.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
District Judge Stephen Leake said he was satisfied the charges were "related" and sent the case to Maidstone Crown Court, where the defendants will appear on 9 October.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
With the knowledge of the sentences his brother and the other two defendants had received, he’d known his fate would be the same.
From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore
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.
