DEFENDANT

defendant, suspect

(noun) a person or institution against whom an action is brought in a court of law; the person being sued or accused

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology 1

Adjective

defendant (comparative more defendant, superlative most defendant)

Serving, or suitable, for defense; defensive, defending.

Etymology 2

Noun

defendant (plural defendants)

(legal) In civil proceedings, the party responding to the complaint; one who is sued and called upon to make satisfaction for a wrong complained of by another.

(legal) In criminal proceedings, the accused.

Antonyms

• (in civil proceedings): plaintiff, claimant

• (in criminal proceedings): prosecutor

Hypernyms

• litigant

Source: Wiktionary

De*fend"ant, a. Etym: [F. défendant, p. pr. of défendre. See Defend.]

1. Serving, or suitable, for defense; defensive. [Obs.] With men of courage and with means defendant. Shak.

2. Making defense.

De*fend"ant, n.

1. One who defends; a defender. The rampiers and ditches which the defendants had cast up. Spotswood.

2. (Law)

Definition: A person required to make answer in an action or suit; -- opposed to plaintiff. Abbott.

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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition