noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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.
The reprieve for the Mississippi defendant split the high court’s conservatives.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026
Ballmer was added in November as a defendant in a civil lawsuit against Sanberg and several others associated with Aspiration.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026
Every defendant we spoke to argued for compensation for attorneys’ fees.
From Slate • May 28, 2026
However, given the time Jama had already spent in custody, the judge acknowledged that the defendant could be released "today or soon".
From BBC • May 27, 2026
“But, as you say, the defendant had no spare on board. Is that right?”
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
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.
