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

Both defendants had other cases pending that needed to be resolved before the trial began, furthering the delays, according to the D.A.’s office.

From Los Angeles Times

At the time the child died, officers found the defendants' home to be in a "poor" condition, and the family's vegetarian diet mainly consisted of yogurt, lentils and butter, Mr McGhee said.

From BBC

"The defendant then approaches the head chef; he grabs him and tries to punch him to the face," said Mr Newman, adding police were called when Sharwarq then armed himself with a chair.

From BBC

The defendant, a German national, was accused by prosecutors of working for Chinese intelligence since 2002, in a case that fuelled concerns about China's spy activities in the European Union.

From BBC

The defendant - known only by his police codename "Mercury" because he was a minor at the time of the alleged offences - was freed in 2019 and all charges, which he denied, were dropped.

From BBC

Related Words

• litigant 
• offender 
• prisoner 
• suspect