Main Entry: ¹re·spon·dent

Pronunciation: \ri-ˈspän-dənt\

Function: noun

Etymology: Latin respondent-, respondens, present participle of respondēre

Date: 1528

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