plaintiff

[pleyn-tif]

noun

Law.

1. a person who brings suit in a court (defendant ).

plaintiff

/ ˈpleɪntɪf /

noun

1. Now replaced by: claimant. (formerly) a person who brings a civil action in a court of law Compare defendant

plaintiff

1. The party that institutes a suit in a court. The person or entity the plaintiff sues is the defendant.

Other Word Forms

• plaintiffship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of plaintiff¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English plaintif “complaining person,” noun use of the adjective; plaintive

Word History and Origins

Origin of plaintiff¹

C14: from legal French plaintif, from Old French plaintif (adj) complaining, from plainte _plaint

Example Sentences

The Times investigation found seven plaintiffs who said they were paid by “recruiters” for a law firm outside a county social services office in South Central Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times

The plaintiffs are middle school and university students who were banned by state laws from participating as a female competitor.

From Salon

Of the roughly 11,000 plaintiffs in the settlement, The Times found that nearly one-fourth were represented by the firm.

From Los Angeles Times

Alphabet will also have to pay an additional $2.5 million to other plaintiffs in the case, including the American Conservative Union and writer Naomi Wolf.

From Los Angeles Times

“The allegations against Mr. Wayne were frivolous and unequivocally false. Mr. Wayne has endured serious and damaging accusations, and today’s verdict confirms what he has always said — the plaintiff’s claims against him are completely fabricated.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• complainant 
• litigant 
• prosecutor