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.
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Recent Examples of defendant
This past week, Bondi charged three people over vandalism of Tesla properties, with each defendant facing charges carrying five to 20 years in prison.
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Asher Notheis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 23 Mar. 2025
But his ruling said essentially that the plaintiff’s beef was solely with Georgette Jones, the daughter of George Jones, who was not named as a defendant, and not with Showtime.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Mar. 2025
During the height of the pandemic, judges were in the courtroom, while attorneys and defendants appeared remotely.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2025
In one upstate county a creepy defendant charged with forcible touching had his case dismissed after the prosecutor discovered that there was a video of the incident that was only found after the speedy trial clock had run out.
—Morgan Bitton, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defendant
Asher Notheis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 23 Mar. 2025
But his ruling said essentially that the plaintiff’s beef was solely with Georgette Jones, the daughter of George Jones, who was not named as a defendant, and not with Showtime.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Mar. 2025
During the height of the pandemic, judges were in the courtroom, while attorneys and defendants appeared remotely.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2025
In one upstate county a creepy defendant charged with forcible touching had his case dismissed after the prosecutor discovered that there was a video of the incident that was only found after the speedy trial clock had run out.
—Morgan Bitton, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defendant
Cite this Entry
“Defendant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defendant. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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