defendant

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a person or organization accused of a crime in a court case

   The defendant pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial.

2. 2
   noun

   the party against whom a civil claim or lawsuit is brought

   The company was named as the defendant in the breach-of-contract suit.

From Middle English defendaunt, borrowed from Old French defendant, the present participle of defendre, 'to defend,' ultimately Latin defendere. A participial description of the party defending a claim became the fixed legal noun.

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