respondent

¹re·spon·dent

noun \ri-ˈspän-dənt\

Definition of RESPONDENT

1

: one who responds: as

a : one who maintains a thesis in reply

b (1) : one who answers in various legal proceedings (as in equity cases) (2) : the prevailing party in the lower court

c : a person who responds to a poll

2

: a reflex that occurs in response to a specific external stimulus — compare operant

Examples of RESPONDENT

1. A majority of respondents said they disagreed with the mayor's plan.

Origin of RESPONDENT

Latin respondent-, respondens, present participle of respondēre

First Known Use: 1528

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

Rhymes with RESPONDENT

despondent

²respondent

adjective

Definition of RESPONDENT

1

: making response : responsive; especially : being a respondent at law

2

: relating to or being behavior or responses to a stimulus that are followed by a reward <respondent conditioning> — compare operant 3

First Known Use of RESPONDENT

1726