plaintiff

noun

plain·​tiff ˈplān-təf 

: a person who brings a legal action compare defendant

Did you know?

We won't complain about the origins of plaintiff, although complain and plaintiff are distantly related; both can be traced back to plangere, a Latin word meaning "to strike, beat one's breast, or lament." Plaintiff comes most immediately from Middle English plaintif, itself an Anglo-French borrowing tracing back to plaint, meaning "lamentation." (The English word plaintive is also related.) Logically enough, plaintiff applies to the one who does the complaining in a legal case.

Synonyms

• complainant
• suer

Examples of plaintiff in a Sentence

the judge ruled that the plaintiff's lawsuit was groundless, and he dismissed it

Recent Examples on the Web

Damages are expected to top $5 million, according to the complaint, and affect more than 100 other potential plaintiffs. —Austin Meek, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025

The Justice Department has questioned whether the organizations have legal standing to sue, and maintained Trump’s orders do not violate the plaintiffs’ rights to free speech. —Curtis Bunn, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2025

The response included a counterclaim against the plaintiffs for court costs and attorney’s fees. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2025

The plaintiffs are due to respond by Monday to the privilege assertion. —Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English plaintif, from Anglo-French, from pleintif, adjective

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

plaintiff

noun

plain·​tiff ˈplānt-əf 

: the complaining party in a lawsuit

Legal Definition

plaintiff

noun

plain·​tiff ˈplān-təf 

: the party who institutes a legal action or claim (as a counterclaim) see also complainant, complaint, libellant compare defendant, prosecution

Etymology

Middle French plaintif, from plaintif, adj., grieving, from plaint lamentation, from Latin planctus, from plangere to strike, beat one's breast, lament