plaintiff

American  

[pleyn-tif] / ˈpleɪn tɪf /

noun

Law.

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

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plaintiff British  

/ ˈpleɪntɪf /

noun

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

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plaintiff Cultural  

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

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Other Word Forms

• plaintiffship noun

Etymology

Origin of plaintiff

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

Example Sentences

He is the plaintiff in his personal capacity, seeking damages for an illegal action that made him a crime victim.

From The Wall Street Journal

A Character.ai spokesperson said plaintiffs and Character.ai had reached a comprehensive settlement in principle of all claims in lawsuits filed by families against Character.ai and others involving alleged injuries to minors.

From BBC

The district attorney announced he would investigate the historic settlement after reporting by The Times that found some plaintiffs who said they were paid to sue.

From Los Angeles Times

Victims of attacks, meanwhile, have threatened to sue IFAW, according to British law firm Leigh Day, which is representing potential plaintiffs.

From The Wall Street Journal

The cases are ongoing, with plaintiffs also filing claims against the trusts of companies bankrupted by the litigation.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• complainant
• litigant
• prosecutor