plaintiff, defendant

plaintiff, defendant
Anyone who has difficulty remembering the distinction between these words should recall that plaintiff is related to plaint and complaint (meaning "grievance") and complain ("to protest"). A plaintiff is a complainant, one who brings a suit in a court of law: "Marcia was the plaintiff' in this action." A defendant, as opposed to a plaintiff, is a defending party, a person sued or accused: "As plaintiff, you brought the action, and as defendant, I shall oppose you."

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • defendant — See plaintiff. See plaintiff, defendant …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • plaintiff — See plaintiff, defendant …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • plaintiff — plain·tiff / plān təf/ n [Middle French plaintif, from plaintif, adj., grieving, from plaint lamentation, from Latin planctus, from plangere to strike, beat one s breast, lament]: the party who institutes a legal action or claim (as a… …   Law dictionary

  • defendant — de·fen·dant /di fen dənt, ˌdant/ n: the party against whom a criminal or civil action is brought see also answer, codefendant compare accused, plaintiff …   Law dictionary

  • plaintiff — plain‧tiff [ˈpleɪntf] noun [countable] LAW someone who brings a legal action against someone in a court of law; = COMPLAINANT: • plaintiffs seeking damages from cigarette manufacturers * * * plaintiff UK US /ˈpleɪntɪf/ noun [C] LAW …   Financial and business terms

  • defendant — ► NOUN ▪ a person sued or accused in a court of law. Compare with PLAINTIFF(Cf. ↑plaintiff) …   English terms dictionary

  • plaintiff — ► NOUN Law ▪ a person who brings a case against another in a court of law. Compare with DEFENDANT(Cf. ↑defendant). ORIGIN Old French plaintif plaintive …   English terms dictionary

  • defendant — [dē fen′dənt, difen′dənt; dē fen′dant΄, di fen′dant΄] adj. [ME defendaunt < OFr defendant, prp. of defendre] defending n. Law the defending party; person sued or accused: opposed to PLAINTIFF …   English World dictionary

  • Plaintiff — Plain tiff, n. [F. plaintif making complaint, plaintive; in Old French equiv. to plaignant complainant, prosecutor, fr. plaindre. See {Plaint}, and cf. {Plaintive}.] (Law) One who commences a personal action or suit to obtain a remedy for an… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • plaintiff — a person or business that files a formal complaint with the court (Glossary of Common Bankruptcy Terms) A person who initiates a case in Court. That person may also be referred to as the Claimant, Petitioner or Applicant. The person who is being… …   Glossary of Bankruptcy

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