next friend

American

noun

Law.

a person other than a duly appointed guardian who acts on behalf of an infant or other person not fully qualified by law to act on their own behalf.

next friend British

noun

Official name: litigation friend. law (formerly) a person acting on behalf of an infant or other person under legal disability

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of next friend

before 900; Middle English; Old English

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 suit was filed by Jenkins as the “next friend” of Isabella Miller.

From Seattle Times

“Each friend should teach the next friend how to download a podcast.”

From Washington Times

But Smith wanted to go further and say that PETA’s lack of next friend status should automatically throw the lawsuit out of court.

From The Verge

The case names environmentalists as “next friends” of the ecosystem.

From Washington Times

Why not invite your next friend who reaches out to walk along Alki or Seward Park instead?

From Seattle Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023