defendant

n. Law

The party against which an action is brought.

One of two parties in a negligence lawsuit (the other party being the plaintiff) from whom the plaintiff seeks releases because of bodily injury and or property damage incurred as the result of the defendant's allegedly negligent acts.

The party sued in an action at law.
Example: Abel brings suit against a former landlord, Baker, for refusing to return a Security Deposit. In the suit, Baker is the defendant.

noun

A person against whom an action is brought: Law accused, respondent. See law.

n

Definition: accused
Antonyms: plaintiff

---

n

The party against whom relief or recovery is sought in a lawsuit.

This entry contains information applicable to United States law only.

The person defending or denying; the party against whom relief or recovery is sought in an action or suit, or the accused in a criminal case.

In every legal action, whether civil or criminal, there are two sides. The person suing is the plaintiff and the person against whom the suit is brought is the defendant. In some instances, there may be more than one plaintiff or defendant.

If an individual is being sued by his or her neighbor for trespass, then he or she is the defendant in a civil suit. The person being accused of murder by the state in a homicide case is the defendant in a criminal action.

The party that is being sued in court. (Compare plaintiff.)

IN BRIEF: A person or institution against whom an action is brought in a court of law.

The defendant was found not guilty by the jury.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
n. - tiltalte, sagsøgte, indstævnede

Nederlands (Dutch)
beklaagde, gedaagde

Français (French)
n. - (Jur) défendeur, intimé, prévenu (d'une affaire criminelle), accusé

Deutsch (German)
n. - Angeklagter

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (νομ.) εναγόμενος, κατηγορούμενος

Italiano (Italian)
accusato, imputato

Português (Portuguese)
n. - réu (m), acusado (m)

Русский (Russian)
ответчик, обвиняемый

Español (Spanish)
n. - demandado, acusado

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - svarande

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
被告

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 被告

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 피고인

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 被告

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) المدعى عليه في قضيه, المتهم‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮נתבע, נאשם‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.