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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of defendant
If passed by the New York Legislature, Hochul’s sweeping proposal would, among other changes, hand discretion back to prosecutors from judges regarding what — and when — information defendants are entitled to while a criminal case makes its way to trial.
—
Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2025
The complaint names more than two dozen defendants, including Combs’ mother Janice, Universal Music, MTV, and several other Bad Boy officials.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2025
Bonds in the hundreds of millions of dollars are sometimes seen with high profile or wealthy defendants.
—Gina Kaufman, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
However, two other defendants, Ezequiel David Pereyra, a former hotel employee, and Braian Paiz, a waiter who served Payne at a restaurant, remain in custody.
—Billboard Staff, Billboard, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defendant
Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2025
The complaint names more than two dozen defendants, including Combs’ mother Janice, Universal Music, MTV, and several other Bad Boy officials.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2025
Bonds in the hundreds of millions of dollars are sometimes seen with high profile or wealthy defendants.
—Gina Kaufman, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
However, two other defendants, Ezequiel David Pereyra, a former hotel employee, and Braian Paiz, a waiter who served Payne at a restaurant, remain in custody.
—Billboard Staff, Billboard, 21 Feb. 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 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share