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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
Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 10 Dec. 2025
The plaintiffs’ attorneys further alleged that the deal, if approved, would harm advertisers.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 9 Dec. 2025
The case expanded and was then brought to the Fifth Circuit, which at first ruled with the plaintiffs, but shortly thereafter that ruling was vacated and a new judgement brought down that ruled against the plaintiffs.
—Drew Broussard, Literary Hub, 8 Dec. 2025
Attorneys for the plaintiffs argue that RTD is lying about its inability to pay for Access on Demand and are asking a judge to declare that the changes to Access on Demand violate the ADA, the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, thus rendering the changes unlawful.
—Austen Erblat, CBS News, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for plaintiff
Cite this Entry
“Plaintiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plaintiff. Accessed 12 Dec. 2025.
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
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