defendant
Beginner (A1)
IPA: /N/A/
KK: /N/A/
adjective
Definition
Not a valid English word.
Example
Not available
Conversation
Did you hear about the case with the defendant who claimed he was innocent?
Yeah, I read a little about it; it sounds pretty intense.
I wonder how the jury will view the defendant's side of the story.
It'll be interesting to see how it all unfolds in court.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
accused
respondent
litigant
Antonyms
plaintiff
complainant
prosecutor
noun
Definition
A person who is accused in a court of law and must defend themselves against the charges.
Example
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.
Conversation
Did you hear about the case with that famous defendant?
Yeah, I read a bit about it online. It's pretty wild!
I can't believe they actually put the defendant on trial for that.
Root Explanation
Defendant → It is formed from "defendere" (meaning to defend) and the suffix "-ant" (meaning one who). The word "defendant" refers to one who is being defended in a legal context, specifically the person accused in a court of law.
Memory Tip
Think of someone who is being 'defended' in court — 'defendere' means to defend, and '-ant' indicates a person. This helps you remember that a defendant is the person being defended against accusations.
Visually Confused Words
codefendant
nondefendant
descendant
detenant
denudant