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

That partnership has already had a ripple effect, identifying targets who would have otherwise been undetected and resulting in indictments, like the case involving the 13 defendants. — Mark Morales, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026

Even the pro bono lawyer for the defendant, who was assigned by the judiciary, did not have access to the case during the trial and was still refused access after the death sentence was issued, according to the family member. — Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026

Adjective

Victims were then directed to send hundreds of thousands of dollars, in some cases including retirement savings, to business accounts belonging to Adesayo's co-defendant, Nigerian national Efemena Igbe. — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

Co-defendant Laster wore a white button-down shirt and looked straight ahead during most of his appearance. — Tom Winter, NBC news, 10 June 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