respondent

1 of 2

noun

re·​spon·​dent ri-ˈspän-dənt 

1

: one who responds: such as

a

: one who maintains a thesis in reply

b(1)

: one who answers in various legal proceedings (as in equity cases)

(2)

: the prevailing party in the lower court

c

: a person who responds to a poll

2

: a reflex that occurs in response to a specific external stimulus compare operant

respondent

2 of 2

adjective

1

: making response : responsive

especially : being a respondent at law

2

: relating to or being behavior or responses to a stimulus that are followed by a reward

respondent conditioning

compare operant sense 3

Examples of respondent in a Sentence

Noun

A majority of respondents said they disagreed with the mayor's plan.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Each of those questions allows respondents to list their national origins. — Albert Sun, New York Times, 2 July 2026

Coming in first, with more than 88% of survey respondents saying they are commonly stolen, are towels. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 4 July 2026

Adjective

That percentage is roughly 15 percent higher than within the entire respondent pool. — Paul Grein, Billboard, 8 Mar. 2022

The legal doctrine of respondent superior states that an employer can be vicariously liable for the improper actions of its employee or agent. — Tom Spiggle, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin respondent-, respondens, present participle of respondēre

First Known Use

Noun

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for respondent

• despondent
• correspondent
• fondant

Medical Definition

respondent

1 of 2 noun

re·​spon·​dent ri-ˈspän-dənt 

: a reflex that occurs in response to a specific external stimulus

the knee jerk is a typical respondent

respondent

2 of 2 adjective

: relating to or being behavior or responses to a stimulus that are followed by a reward

respondent conditioning

compare operant

Legal Definition

respondent

noun

re·​spon·​dent ri-ˈspän-dənt 

: one who answers or defends in various proceedings: as

a

: an answering party in an equitable proceeding

b

: a party against whom a petition (as for a writ of habeas corpus) seeking relief is brought

c

: an answering party in a proceeding in juvenile court or family court

specifically : a party against whom a divorce proceeding is brought

d

: a party prevailing at trial who defends the outcome on appeal : appellee