n. 1) the party sued in a civil lawsuit or the party charged with...

An individual (or business) against whom a lawsuit is filed.

In a civil case, the person or organization against whom the plaintiff brings suit; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.

The person against whom the lawsuit is filed and from whom relief

In a civil trial, the party against whom the suit has been brought.

c. 1400, in the legal sense, from French défendant, present participle of défendre (see defend). Earliest use in English was as a present participle adjective meaning "defending" (c. 1300). [..]

the party being sued or the party accused of committing the offense charged

person or organization accused of a crime or other wrongdoing.

The person against whom a lawsuit is filed. In some types of cases (such as divorce) a defendant may be called a respondent.

a person or institution against whom an action is brought in a court of law; the person being sued or accused A defendant or defender (Δ in legal shorthand) is any party who is required to answe [..]

n. A person against whom a suit is brought.

The accused in a criminal proceeding.  

An individual or institution being charged with a crime or being sued by another individual or institution.

the party against whom a criminal or civil action is brought see also answer, codefendant compare accused, plaintiff

  The individual against whom legal proceedings are brought.

  The person against whom a claim or action is taken.

The party against whom a legal action has been brought.

A person required to answer in an action.    (Hogue, Arthur R. Origins of the Common Law, 255)

A defendant, in criminal cases, is the person accused of the crime. In civil matters, the defendant is the person or entity that is being sued. In some states, or in certain types of actions, the defe [..]

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

reus

In a civil case, the person being sued. In a criminal case, the person charged with a crime.

In a civil case, the person being sued. In a criminal case, the person charged with a crime. Deferred Sentence

The person accused of the crime.

A person required to answer a criminal accusation or civil complaint.

The party against whom relief or recovery is sought in a court action or suit. Sometimes used to designate the accused in criminal or traffic cases.

The person against whom a suit is filed, or in a criminal action, who has been charged with a violation of the law or criminal wrong doing. De Novo Appeal (Trans: for new) -- An appeal from a District Court to a circuit court for a new trial at which new evidence may be presented and new determinations are made. All criminal traffic charges are hea [..]

Person against whom a lawsuit is commenced. This includes companies, corporations, or individuals. Dispute Note

This term refers to the party against whom a lawsuit is initiated. In a car accident lawsuit, the injured party (the plaintiff) brings a lawsuit against the party who caused his or her injuries (the d [..]

In a civil case, the defendant is the person against whom the lawsuit is brought. In a criminal case, the defendant is the person accused of committing the crime.

The defendant is the accused in a criminal case.

In family law, this is the previous term for the person who responds to an action initiated by the Claimant (Previously the Plaintiff) This person is now called the Respondent.

A person who has been charged with a criminal defence or against whom a civil action has been brought. In civil proceedings in some courts they are referred to as the respondent.

A person sued in a civil action or proceeding.

Person against whom a lawsuit is brought – the party who is sued. The person who will defend an action and file an Answer to the Complaint.

Individual or organization against whom a lawsuit has been brought.

The party -- usually your employer or its insurance company -- opposing you in a dispute over benefits or services.

Person or entity being sued by the plaintiff.

The person being sued in a court action.

In a civil case, the person being sued. In a criminal case, the person accused of the crime. Sometimes called "respondent."

  The person accused of or charged with a criminal offense.  This is the person alleged to have committed a particular crime.

An individual charged and brought to trial. Before being charged, an individual is usually a suspect

In a civil action, the defendant is the party called to answer claims brought by the plaintiff. In a criminal action, the defendant is the party accused of committing a crime.

The accused in a criminal case; the person from whom money or other recovery is sought in a civil case.

a person who is accused of committing a crime

In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.

In a civil case, the person or organization sued by the plaintiff. In a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.

  A person who has been formally charged with committing a crime.

The party charged with a crime in a criminal prosecution.

A person who has been charged with an offense.

You are a defendant if you have been formally charged with committing a criminal offense, or crime.

In a criminal case

a person against whom a criminal action is brought via arrest or the issuance of a formal criminal charge direct indictment:

The person accused of committing the crime.

In the Magistrates Court, the accused may be referred to as the defendant

A person who has been charged with a criminal offence, or whom a civil action has been brought against.

A person charged with a crime or a person against whom a civil action is brought.

Person who is sued in a civil case or accused in a criminal case.

a person charged with an offence or about whom a civil complaint has been laid

the party sued in a civil lawsuit or the party charged with a crime in a criminal prosecution. In some types of cases (such as divorce) a defendant may be called a respondent.

The person against whom a charge or claim is brought in court.

A person or organisation that has been charged with breaking the law.

In a criminal case, the person accused of the crime. In a civil case, the person or organization sued by the plaintiff.

A person who has been formally charged by a court with committing a specific crime.

The person alleged to have committed a crime that has been arrested and prosecuted on said offense.

(civil) the other party against whom civil proceedings are brought against them; (criminal) a person charged with a criminal offence in a lower court;

In a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.

In criminal cases, the person charged with a crime. In civil cases, the person or entity from whom relief is sought by the plaintiff.

A person who has been formally charged with a crime.

the person sued in a civil action or charged with a criminal offence.

The person against whom a suit is filed, or in a criminal action, who has been charged with a violation of the law or criminal wrong doing. De Novo Appeal (Trans: for new) -- An appeal from a District [..]

The defendant is the person responding to a legal claim made against them. The name can apply to both the person responding to the plaintiff in a civil trial, and to the person responding to criminal [..]

The defendant in a civil or criminal case is the party who has been accused of some wrongdoing or criminal activity. In a civil case the defendant is the person who has been accused of some non-criminal wrongdoing (often called a tort) for which the other party (the plaintiff) seeks monetary compensation. In a civil case, the plaintiff is the perso [..]

A defendant is the person being sued in a civil lawsuit or who is charged with a crime in criminal cases. In divorce cases, defendants are sometimes called respondents.

The person charged with a crime in the complaint. Defense Attorney: The attorney representing the defendant as a client.

The party against whom a charge or violation was filed.

An individual, business, or agency sued in a civil case or accused in a criminal case.

 a person who has been formally charged with committing a crime

The party against whom relief or recovery is sought, or the accused in a criminal case.

The person against whom a lawsuit is started; sometimes this person is called a respondent.

In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime. deposition:

A person who has been formally charged with committing a crime.

n. 1) the party sued in a civil lawsuit or the party charged with a crime in a criminal prosecution. In some types of cases (such as divorce) a defendant may be called a respondent.

The person against whom a civil or criminal action is taken.

Person who has been formally charged with committing a crime.

A person or institution against whom an action is brought in a court of law; the person being sued or accused. See also Plaintiff.

The person formally accused of accused of committing a criminal offense.

 A person sued in a civil suit or accused of a crime.

In a civil case, the person being sued. In a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.

A person charged with a crime in a criminal case or the party being sued in a civil case. 

In criminal law, the accused individual. In civil law, the person being sued.

In a civil case, the person or organization against whom the plaintiff brings suit; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.    

A person accused of a criminal act or civil injustice.

A person against whom a criminal proceeding is pending.

Any party who is required to answer the complaint of a plaintiff or pursuer in a civil lawsuit before a court, or any party who has been formally charged or accused of violating a criminal statute.

The person against whom a civil or criminal proceeding is begun.

A person charged with a crime or a person against whom a civil action is brought.

n. 1) the party sued in a civil lawsuit or the party charged with a crime in a criminal prosecution. In some types of cases (such as divorce) a defendant may be called a respondent.

  Person who starts an action against someone in the civil courts.  (Since the introduction of the new Civil Procedure Rules in April 1999, ‘claimant’ has replaced this term.)