defendant

1 of 2

noun

de·​fen·​dant di-ˈfen-dənt 

in legal circles often

-ˌdant 

law

: a person or group against whom a criminal or civil action is brought : someone who is being sued or accused of committing a crime

if the jury finds the defendant not guilty

compare plaintiff

defendant

2 of 2

adjective

: being on the defensive : defending

Examples of defendant in a Sentence

Noun

The jury believed that the defendant was guilty.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Edens, a professor of psychology at Texas A&M University, testified about studies he’s been involved in that examined whether experts accurately predicted future violence by defendants believed to be a threat. —Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026

Both the defendant and victim in the Wednesday slay were employees of the university, the DA said. —Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 23 Apr. 2026

Adjective

Moss’ cross-examination undercut the credibility of the government’s main cooperating witness, Perera, who was not charged with Rivera and co-defendant Esther Nuhfer, a Miami political consultant. —Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026

At issue in the California case was whether Instagram and co-defendant YouTube were designed to addict kids, and whether the companies failed to warn families of those dangers. —Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English defendaunt, borrowed from Anglo-French defendant, diffendaunt, noun derivative from present participle of defendre "to defend"

Adjective

Middle English defendaunt, from Anglo-French defendant, present participle of defendre "to defend"

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing defendant

• co-defendant

Rhymes for defendant

• appendant
• ascendant
• attendant
• dependant
• dependent
• descendant
• descendent
• intendant
• resplendent
• transcendent
• codefendant
• independent

Kids Definition

defendant

noun

de·​fend·​ant

di-ˈfen-dənt

: a person who is being sued or accused in a legal action

Legal Definition

defendant

noun

de·​fen·​dant di-ˈfen-dənt, -ˌdant 

: the party against whom a criminal or civil action is brought see also answer, codefendant compare accused, plaintiff