plaintiff

noun

plain·​tiff ˈplān-təf 

: a person who brings a legal action compare defendant

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms of plaintiff

• complainant
• accuser
• appellant

Examples of plaintiff in a Sentence

the judge ruled that the plaintiff's lawsuit was groundless, and he dismissed it

Recent Examples on the Web

The plaintiff moved to dismiss the suit the following year and his attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on why the suit was dropped or whether a settlement was reached outside court. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026

But, argue the plaintiffs, the Nazis’ lists were often modified at the request of unscrupulous dealers. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Buzbee, meanwhile, continues to represent other plaintiffs pursuing civil claims against Combs. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026

The goal of the lawsuit, the plaintiff’s attorney said, is to bring accountability to the tragic incident. — Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English plaintif, from Anglo-French, from pleintif, adjective

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

plaintiff

noun

plain·​tiff ˈplānt-əf 

: the complaining party in a lawsuit

Legal Definition

plaintiff

noun

plain·​tiff ˈplān-təf 

: the party who institutes a legal action or claim (as a counterclaim) see also complainant, complaint, libellant compare defendant, prosecution

Etymology

Middle French plaintif, from plaintif, adj., grieving, from plaint lamentation, from Latin planctus, from plangere to strike, beat one's breast, lament