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

Judge Spencer told the defendant: "I'm quite satisfied you retain much more memory of this attack than you have ever had the courage to admit."

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Meanwhile, jurors in Los Angeles have sent questions to the court signaling they are deciding over damages for one defendant and potentially deadlocked on liability for the other.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

The sea closes over Carl Heine—it seeps into his pocket watch, stopping it at 1:47, recording the time of his death—and the defendant stands watching the place where it seals up, leaving no trace behind.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

Related Words

• litigant
• offender
• prisoner
• suspect