complainant

noun

com·​plain·​ant kəm-ˈplā-nənt 

1

: the party who makes the complaint in a legal action or proceeding

2

: one who complains

Synonyms of complainant

• plaintiff

Examples of complainant in a Sentence

the complainant charged that the defendant had broken the ironclad contract that both had signed

Recent Examples on the Web

The complainant’s identity was not revealed. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 1 May 2026

According to investigators, the complainant told officers the home’s garage door had been open throughout the day while the lights inside remained off. — Brock Hardesty, Florida Times-Union, 10 May 2026

Meanwhile, one of the responding officers identified the suspect seen in surveillance footage as the complainant in a domestic violence call earlier this year on Walnut Street. — Patrick Damp, CBS News, 14 May 2026

Ontario Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy found Stronach guilty on Friday on two charges related to two complainants. — ABC News, 19 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

complainant

noun

com·​plain·​ant kəm-ˈplā-nənt 

1

: one who makes a legal complaint

2

: one who complains

Legal Definition

complainant

noun

com·​plain·​ant kəm-ˈplā-nənt 

: the party (as a plaintiff or petitioner) who makes the complaint in a legal action or proceeding