plaintiff (ˈpleɪntɪf) ![]() | |
| —n | |
| Compare defendant Now replaced by: claimant (formerly) a person who brings a civil action in a court of law | |
| [C14: from legal French plaintif, from Old French plaintif (adj) complaining, from plainte | |
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
The party that institutes a suit in a court. The person or entity the plaintiff sues is the defendant.