as in offender
a person who is being sued or accused of a crime in a court of law
The jury believed that the defendant was guilty.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of defendant
Three days after he was freed from prison, Tarrio said at a press conference that Trump’s pardons of him and other Jan. 6 defendants on Monday were warranted due to injustices by the Justice Department.
—
Claire Healy, Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2025
The defendants were indicted by a grand jury—an indictment is merely an allegation.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2025
Sentencing guidelines for most misdemeanors in Idaho give judges latitude to fine defendants up to $1,000, but also impose no financial penalty at all.
—Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 16 Jan. 2025
Some defendants who lost their homes or were forced to flee infernos faced the threat of arrest for missing court, attorneys said.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for defendant 
Claire Healy, Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2025
The defendants were indicted by a grand jury—an indictment is merely an allegation.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2025
Sentencing guidelines for most misdemeanors in Idaho give judges latitude to fine defendants up to $1,000, but also impose no financial penalty at all.
—Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 16 Jan. 2025
Some defendants who lost their homes or were forced to flee infernos faced the threat of arrest for missing court, attorneys said.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for defendant
Thesaurus Entries Near defendant
Cite this Entry
“Defendant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defendant. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share