defendant

1 of 2

noun

de·​fen·​dant di-ˈfen-dənt 

in legal circles often

-ˌdant 

law

: a person or group against whom a criminal or civil action is brought : someone who is being sued or accused of committing a crime

if the jury finds the defendant not guilty

compare plaintiff

defendant

2 of 2

adjective

: being on the defensive : defending

Examples of defendant in a Sentence

Noun

The jury believed that the defendant was guilty.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The other defendant, Kathy Stapp — who became the union’s International Secretary-Treasurer when Creeden resigned in 2023 — pleaded guilty in December 2024 to one count of racketeering conspiracy. —Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026

Hotel staff confirmed the defendant stayed in a room at the hotel. —Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 28 May 2026

Adjective

The judge has also agreed to hear from four others seeking dismissals, including Jose Maria Marin, the former head of Brazilian soccer, and his co-defendant Juan Angel Napout, former head of FIFA’s South America’s soccer federation CONMEBOL. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 May 2026

Musk’s travel would only potentially be an issue if OpenAI, co-defendant Microsoft or the judge herself called Musk back to the stand Wednesday, which is scheduled to be the final day of evidence in the trial. —David Ingram, NBC news, 13 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English defendaunt, borrowed from Anglo-French defendant, diffendaunt, noun derivative from present participle of defendre "to defend"

Adjective

Middle English defendaunt, from Anglo-French defendant, present participle of defendre "to defend"

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing defendant

• co-defendant

Rhymes for defendant

• appendant
• ascendant
• attendant
• dependant
• dependent
• descendant
• descendent
• intendant
• resplendent
• transcendent
• codefendant
• independent

Kids Definition

defendant

noun

de·​fend·​ant

di-ˈfen-dənt

: a person who is being sued or accused in a legal action

Legal Definition

defendant

noun

de·​fen·​dant di-ˈfen-dənt, -ˌdant 

: the party against whom a criminal or civil action is brought see also answer, codefendant compare accused, plaintiff