defendant
Translation
defendant
Examples
The defendant pleaded not guilty.
The defendant pleaded not guilty.
She is the defendant in this civil lawsuit.
She is the defendant in this civil lawsuit.
Grammar Patterns
((noun)) a person accused of a crime in a court of law The defendant pleaded not guilty.
Similar Words
Synonyms: accused, respondent; Antonyms: plaintiff, prosecutor
Etymology
From Latin 'defendere' (to ward off). The '-ant' suffix denotes a person performing an action. Thus, a person who is 'defending' themselves in court.
Memory Tips
Think of someone who has to 'defend' themselves against accusations in a court of law.