Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
Nearby Entries
defendant - 6 dictionary results
Ask a Lawyer Online Now
 A Lawyer Will Answer You Within Minutes - Anytime, Any Day of Week
 Legal.JustAnswer.com

de⋅fend⋅ant

  [di-fen-duhnt or, especially in court for 1, -dant]
Use defendant in a Sentence
–noun
1. Law. a person, company, etc., against whom a claim or charge is brought in a court (opposed to plaintiff ).
2. Obsolete. defender.
–adjective
3. making one's defense; defending: a defendant corporation.
4. Obsolete. defensive.
Origin:
1275–1325; ME defendaunt < AF (MF, OF defendant). See defend, -ant
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To defendant
de·fen·dant   (dĭ-fěn'dənt, -dānt')   
n.   Law
The party against which an action is brought.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Defendant

De*fend"ant\, a. [F. d['e]fendant, p. pr. of d['e]fendre. See Defend.]

1. Serving, or suitable, for defense; defensive. [Obs.]

With men of courage and with means defendant. --Shak.

2. Making defense.

Defendant

De*fend"ant\, n. 1. One who defends; a defender.

The rampiers and ditches which the defendants had cast up. --Spotswood.

2. (Law) A person required to make answer in an action or suit; -- opposed to plaintiff. --Abbott.

Note: The term is applied to any party of whom a demand is made in court, whether the party denies and defends the claim, or admits it, and suffers a default; also to a party charged with a criminal offense.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : defendant
Spanish: demandado, acusado,
German: der Angeklagte,
Japanese: 被告
More Translations »

defendant

The party that is being sued in court. (Compare plaintiff.)

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Main Entry: de·fen·dant
Pronunciation: di-'fen-d&nt, -"dant
Function: noun
: the party against whom a criminal or civil action is brought —see also ANSWER, CODEFENDANT —compare ACCUSED, PLAINTIFF
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see defendant on Thesaurus | Reference
Ask a Lawyer Online Now
 A Lawyer Will Answer You Within Minutes - Anytime, Any Day of Week
 Legal.JustAnswer.com