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codefendant

noun

co·​de·​fen·​dant ˌkō-di-ˈfen-dənt How to pronounce codefendant (audio)
in legal circles often -ˌdant
variants or co-defendant
plural codefendants or co-defendants
Synonyms of codefendantnext
: a defendant in the same lawsuit or criminal prosecution as another defendant or group of defendants : a joint defendant
… the defendant argued that it was plain error for the trial court to have permitted the prosecution to treat his co-defendant as hostile …State v. Saenz, 370 P.3d 1278 (2016)

Examples of codefendant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The evidence against Billups and his codefendants – including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former player and coach Damon Jones – comes from electronic devices, surveillance photographs, pole camera footage, bank records and phone records, prosecutors said. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 23 Nov. 2025 Jones was a member of the gang 6 Block, which had a rivalry with gangs ATK and 1200, of which Andrews’ codefendants were members, prosecutors allege. Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025 Singh’s codefendant Amandeep Multani, 37, of Roseville, pleaded guilty in 2022 and will be sentenced in November. Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2025 The program in question was sponsored by Progressive, the insurance company, a codefendant in the suit, along with Circular Board, Hello Alice’s parent. Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for codefendant

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of codefendant was in 1641

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Cite this Entry

“Codefendant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/codefendant. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.

Legal Definition

codefendant

noun
co·​de·​fen·​dant
ˌkō-di-ˈfen-dənt, -ˌdant
: a joint defendant

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