as in offender
a person who is being sued or accused of a crime in a court of law
The jury believed that the defendant was guilty.
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Recent Examples of defendant
The sheriff’s office will stop accepting new defendants April 1.
—
Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
That defendant’s lawyer was David Yannetti, who famously represents Karen Read in her murder case in Norfolk County Superior Court and who represented the last two defendants called on Friday in this case.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2025
Vallow Daybell never gave up her right to a speedy trial, which is supposed to guarantee a defendant’s trial starts six months after the arraignment.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 15 Mar. 2025
The District Attorney’s Office has already filed a revocation on the defendant’s probation, and our position is the original sentence was not eligible for probation.
—Peter D'abrosca, Fox News, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defendant
Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
That defendant’s lawyer was David Yannetti, who famously represents Karen Read in her murder case in Norfolk County Superior Court and who represented the last two defendants called on Friday in this case.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2025
Vallow Daybell never gave up her right to a speedy trial, which is supposed to guarantee a defendant’s trial starts six months after the arraignment.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 15 Mar. 2025
The District Attorney’s Office has already filed a revocation on the defendant’s probation, and our position is the original sentence was not eligible for probation.
—Peter D'abrosca, Fox News, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defendant
Cite this Entry
“Defendant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defendant. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
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