noun

defendant

dih-FEN-duhnt/dɪˈfendənt/

A person or party accused or sued in court.

The defendant sits beside a lawyer while the judge listens to the accusation.

In a courtroom, an accused person sits beside a lawyer while an accuser points toward them and a judge listens from the bench.

Etymology

deLatinaway

+fendLatinstrike, push

+antOld Frenchdoing the action

“Strike or push away” gives the image behind defending: warding off an attack. A defendant is the person defending in court, where the attack takes the form of a legal claim or accusation.

In context

CUNY TV presenter10:03

defendant was being cross-examined,

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The Royal Institution presenter14:31

that defendant will go on to commit a crime in the future.

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More examples

The defendant pleads not guilty to the theft charge.
The company is named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Both defendants must appear in court on Monday.

Forms

defendant · defendants

defend verb — To argue against legal claims or charges.

Similar words

accused: Usually identifies someone facing criminal charges rather than a civil lawsuit.
respondent: Often names the party answering a petition or appeal.