defendant

Law: 1. a person, company, etc., against whom a claim or charge is brought in a court (opposed to plaintiff). 2. a person against whom an action or claim is brought in a court of law. Compare plaintiff. 3. The party that is being sued in court. 4. a person or group against whom a criminal or civil action is brought : someone who is being sued or accused of committing a crime: if the jury finds the defendant not guilty. Adjective: 1. making one's defense; defending: a defendant corporation. 2. making a defence; defending. 3. : being on the defensive : defending. Obsolete: 1. defender. 2. defensive. Example: The jury believed that the defendant was guilty. Related Words: prisoner, suspect, offender, litigant, appellant. Origin: 1275–1325; Middle English defendaunt < Anglo-French (Middle French, Old French defendant). See defend, -ant. First Known Use: Noun: 14th century. Adjective: 14th century. History and Etymology: Noun: Middle English defendaunt, borrowed from Anglo-French defendant, diffendaunt, noun derivative from present participle of defendre "to defend". Adjective: Middle English defendaunt, from Anglo-French defendant, present participle of defendre "to defend".
Source 1, Source 2.