'Defendant' definitions:
Definition of 'defendant'
(from WordNet)
noun
A person or institution against whom an action is brought in a court of law; the person being sued or accused [syn: defendant, suspect] [ant: complainant, plaintiff]
Definition of 'Defendant'
From: GCIDE
- Defendant \De*fend"ant\ (d[-e]*f[e^]nd"ant), a. [F. d['e]fendant, p. pr. of d['e]fendre. See Defend.]
- 1. Serving, or suitable, for defense; defensive. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
- With men of courage and with means defendant. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Making defense. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Defendant'
From: GCIDE
- Defendant \De*fend"ant\, n.
- 1. One who defends; a defender. [1913 Webster]
- The rampiers and ditches which the defendants had cast up. --Spotswood. [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Law) A person required to make answer in an action or suit; -- opposed to plaintiff. --Abbott. [1913 Webster]
- Note: The term is applied to any party of whom a demand is made in court, whether the party denies and defends the claim, or admits it, and suffers a default; also to a party charged with a criminal offense. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'defendant'
From: GCIDE
- Libellee \Li`bel*lee"\, n. (Law) (a) The party against whom a libel has been filed; -- corresponding to defendant in a common law action. (b) The defendant in an action of libel. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
Synonyms of 'defendant'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- accessory,
- accused,
- bitter-ender,
- brawler,
- correspondent,
- diehard,
- disputant,
- dissentient,
- dissident,
- intransigent,
- irreconcilable,
- last-ditcher,
- libelee,
- litigant,
- litigationist,
- litigator,
- naysayer,
- negativist,
- noncooperator,
- objector,
- obstructionist,
- obstructive,
- opposer,
- oppositionist,
- panel,
- parties litigant,
- party,
- plaintiff,
- prisoner,
- protester,
- quarreler,
- resister,
- respondent,
- scrapper,
- suitor,
- suspect,
- witness,
- wrangler