What is the base word for defendant?

Asked by: Elody Lindgren  |  Last update: July 26, 2023
Score: 4.3/5 (75 votes)

defendant (n.)
c. 1400, in the legal sense "a party sued in a court of law," from Anglo-French, Old French defendant (Modern French défendant), noun use of present participle of defendre (see defend). Earliest use in English was as a present-participle adjective meaning "defensive, defending" (c. 1300).

What is the term for defendant?

Synonyms of defendant

a person who is being sued or accused of a crime in a court of law The jury believed that the defendant was guilty. offender. criminal. accused. suspect.

What is the root word of plaintiff?

The word plaintiff can be traced to the year 1278, and stems from the Anglo-French word pleintif meaning "complaining". It was identical to "plaintive" at first and receded into legal usage with the -iff spelling in the 15th century.

What is another word for defendant in law?

On this page you'll find 9 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to defendant, such as: litigant, offender, prisoner, suspect, and appellant.

What is a word for plaintiff?

Synonyms of plaintiff (noun accuser) complainant. litigant. prosecutor. suer.

What is the meaning of the word DEFENDANT?

16 related questions found

What is the opposite of plaintiff?

Plaintiff means; prosecutor, claimant, complainant, litigant, the prosecution. Opposites of Plaintiff; defendant.

What is the opposite side of plaintiff?

plaintiff, the party who brings a legal action or in whose name it is brought—as opposed to the defendant, the party who is being sued.

What is defendant and in court terminology?

defendant: In a civil case, the person or organization sued by the plaintiff. In a criminal case, the person accused of the crime. defense: In a civil case, the facts or arguments presented by the defendant to show why the plaintiff doesn't have a right to the relief asked for.

What is defendant and plaintiff?

In a civil case, the person or entity that files the lawsuit is called the plaintiff. The person or entity being sued is called the defendant. In a civil case, the “defendant” is the person or entity being sued and the “plaintiff” is the person or entity filing the lawsuit.

What are plaintiffs and defendants called?

The Parties

The people or entities who are directly involved in a lawsuit are called parties. They are plaintiffs (those who are suing in a civil case) or defendants (those being sued in a civil case or accused in criminal cases).

Is the plaintiff first?

(In the trial court, the first name listed is the plaintiff, the party bringing the suit. The name following the "v" is the defendant. If the case is appealed, as in this example, the name of the petitioner (appellant) is usually listed first, and the name of the respondent (appellee) is listed second.

What is the opposite of the defendant in court?

▲ Opposite of one who is sued and called upon to make satisfaction for a wrong complained of by another. plaintiff. accuser. claimant.

What does the root sue mean?

The root of suer is the verb sue, which has its origins in the Latin word sequi, "to follow." Originally, to sue meant "to follow up in court."

What is a defendant quizlet?

Defendant. in civil suit, the person against whom a court action is brought by the plaintiff; in a criminal case, the person charged with the crime. Original jurisdiction. the power of a court to hear a case first, before any other court. Appellate jurisdiction.

What is an example of a defendant?

In a criminal case, the defendant is the person accused of committing a crime. For example, if someone is accused of murder, the government will bring a criminal case against them. The government is the plaintiff, and the accused is the defendant.

What are the two sides of a trial called?

parties - Plaintiffs and defendants (petitioners and respondents) to lawsuits, also known as appellants and appellees in appeals, and their lawyers. petit jury (or trial jury) - A group of citizens who hear the evidence presented by both sides at trial and determine the facts in dispute.

Is there always a plaintiff?

The words “plaintiff” and “defendant” are used in nearly all civil proceedings. According to US law, the plaintiff is always the individual or corporation that initiates a lawsuit.

Do you say plaintiff or the plaintiff?

In any event, never use all-caps for party designations. When you're discussing a legal precedent, use the and don't capitalize plaintiff, defendant, etc. {The court denied the plaintiff's motion}.

What is legal terminology?

Legal terminology in common law encompasses a range of English and Latin phrases that have been preserved through centuries of legal practice. Some of these, such as "trademark," are familiar to the everyday person. Others, such as the Latin phrase sua sponte, are only understood by lawyers and judges.

What are some common legal terms?

Legal Terms & Definitions
  • Action, Case, Suit. A legal dispute brought into court for a hearing or trial.
  • Answer. A pleading filed with the court before the trial by the defendant in a civil case to answer or deny the plaintiff's claims.
  • Acquit. ...
  • Cause of Action. ...
  • Challenge for Cause. ...
  • Closing Argument. ...
  • Complaint. ...
  • Counterclaim.

Who is always the plaintiff?

In Criminal Cases, the Plaintiff is typically identified as “The People,” which is the State on behalf of the victim. The Defendant is the individual(s) being accused of a crime or code. In Civil Cases, the Plaintiff is the person(s) who has alleged that a wrongdoing has been done to the them.

Which person is the plaintiff?

The plaintiff is a person or entity that files a lawsuit. The lawsuit includes a complaint and a summons which must be filed in the appropriate court. The defendant the person or entity that is being sued. Plaintiff and defendant are terms usually used in civil cases and/or a civil lawsuit.

What is an example of a plaintiff?

A plaintiff is an individual or party that files a lawsuit. For example, in debt collection, the plaintiff is usually the creditor, debt collection company, organization, or any other entity the defendant owes money to. In this case, the defendant is the party being sued by the plaintiff.

What is the opposite of claimant?

The party responsible for the plaintiff's injuries is known as the “defendant.”

Is plaintiff the opposite of defendant?

The defendant in a lawsuit is the polar opposite of the plaintiff. The defendant serves as the title for the person or entity being sued and is just as crucial to lawsuits as the plaintiff since they are the party with whom the plaintiff has a grievance and is making a claim.