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We won't complain about the origins of plaintiff, although complain and plaintiff are distantly related; both can be traced back to plangere, a Latin word meaning "to strike, beat one's breast, or lament." Plaintiff comes most immediately from Middle English plaintif, itself an Anglo-French borrowing tracing back to plaint, meaning "lamentation." (The English word plaintive is also related.) Logically enough, plaintiff applies to the one who does the complaining in a legal case.
Examples of plaintiff in a Sentence
Arkansas Online, 20 Mar. 2026
As part of the lawsuit, the plaintiffs filed to reverse a Labor Department rule that lowers the wages paid to foreign workers hired through the H-2A program.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
In total, 23 plaintiffs from 16 states — including Texas — brought claims.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors Declined Criminal Charges Linnea’s family and other plaintiffs settled a lawsuit in 2023 against those involved in her death.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for plaintiff
Cite this Entry
“Plaintiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plaintiff. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plaintiff
noun
Legal Definition
plaintiff
noun
Middle French plaintif, from plaintif, adj., grieving, from plaint lamentation, from Latin planctus, from plangere to strike, beat one's breast, lament
