defendant

1 of 2

noun

de·​fen·​dant di-ˈfen-dənt 

in legal circles often

-ˌdant 

law

: a person or group against whom a criminal or civil action is brought : someone who is being sued or accused of committing a crime

if the jury finds the defendant not guilty

compare plaintiff

defendant

2 of 2

adjective

: being on the defensive : defending

Examples of defendant in a Sentence

Noun

The jury believed that the defendant was guilty.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The defendants are being held in a county lockup with no bail. — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Prosecutors say Lavi Pham and James Salerno, middle-school friends who are now co-defendants, should be convicted of first-degree murder, felony murder by rape and premeditated murder, as well as first-degree kidnapping and concealing a death. — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Stanley’s co-defendant, unsuccessful county commissioner candidate and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bus driver Heather Morrow, was found guilty of the petty offenses and the misdemeanor assault charge. — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026

As part of the charm offensive, Rivera and a co-defendant, political consultant Esther Nuhfer, sought to manipulate influential friends, including Rubio and Sessions. — Joshua Goodman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English defendaunt, borrowed from Anglo-French defendant, diffendaunt, noun derivative from present participle of defendre "to defend"

Adjective

Middle English defendaunt, from Anglo-French defendant, present participle of defendre "to defend"

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing defendant

• co-defendant

Rhymes for defendant

• appendant
• ascendant
• attendant
• dependant
• dependent
• descendant
• descendent
• intendant
• resplendent
• transcendent
• codefendant
• independent

Kids Definition

defendant

noun

de·​fend·​ant

di-ˈfen-dənt

: a person who is being sued or accused in a legal action

Legal Definition

defendant

noun

de·​fen·​dant di-ˈfen-dənt, -ˌdant 

: the party against whom a criminal or civil action is brought see also answer, codefendant compare accused, plaintiff