Meaning & use
defendant
A person or organization accused of a crime or sued in a court of law.
See it in a sentence
The defendant pleaded not guilty and requested a trial by jury.
Lawyers for the defendant argued that the evidence had been collected improperly.
A note on using this word
In a civil case the opposing party is the plaintiff; in a criminal case it is the prosecution, but the accused is always called the defendant.
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