complainant

noun

com·​plain·​ant kəm-ˈplā-nənt How to pronounce complainant (audio)
1
: the party who makes the complaint in a legal action or proceeding
2
: one who complains

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
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 commission did not update complainants on the investigation process in any of the complaints the auditor reviewed. Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 June 2025 The second complainant’s account is similar, the BBC added. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 16 June 2025 The first incident occurred in April 2020, when Pitt allegedly forcibly touched the complainant’s genitals. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2025 In the years that followed there have been a number of civil suits brought by female complainants against Cuomo that have not been resolved. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for complainant

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of complainant was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Complainant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complainant. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

complainant

noun
com·​plain·​ant kəm-ˈplā-nənt How to pronounce complainant (audio)
1
: one who makes a legal complaint
2
: one who complains

Legal Definition

complainant

noun
com·​plain·​ant kəm-ˈplā-nənt How to pronounce complainant (audio)
: the party (as a plaintiff or petitioner) who makes the complaint in a legal action or proceeding

More from Merriam-Webster on complainant

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