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

“Without a reasonable basis for doing so and/or with reckless regard to the consequences, defendants failed to pay for the rented costumes and failed to return the costumes undamaged.”

From Los Angeles Times

Also named as defendants are the agency itself and the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors.

From Los Angeles Times

“Without financial and legal support, these victims would be unable to hold the responsible parties, powerful corporate or governmental defendants, accountable.”

From Los Angeles Times

There have been three recent not guilty verdicts delivered to defendants accused of assaulting federal agents.

From Los Angeles Times

Overall, 92 defendants, many of them residents of Somali descent, have been charged, and 60 have been convicted, according to prosecutors.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• litigant
• offender
• prisoner
• suspect