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

The award was $6 million total, with Meta splitting the bill with Alphabet, also a defendant in the case.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

In all three states, a defendant arguing self-defense must show that they were responding to a reasonable fear of imminent danger to justify the shooting.

From Slate • Mar. 27, 2026

Under US law, Maduro, like every defendant, would be entitled to a court-appointed lawyer if he is unable to afford his own.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Judge Kato Crews dismissed the Mountain West Conference as a defendant but said he wants to put the rest of the case on hold until after a Supreme Court ruling in B.P.J. v.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

The prosecutor is also free to file more charges against a defendant than can realistically be proven in court, so long as probable cause arguably exists—a practice known as overcharging.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Related Words

• litigant
• offender
• prisoner
• suspect