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
The trial ended with convictions of all defendants and Nevas imposed sentences as long as life in prison.
—
Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025
At a deportation hearing, the government has a lower burden of proof and the defendant does not have the right to a jury trial, for example.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 Apr. 2025
The case has been appealed by the defendant and is pending.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
The judge’s opinion would identify the grounds for an acquittal or for holding the defendants’ liable.
—Andrea Tinianow, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for defendant
Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025
At a deportation hearing, the government has a lower burden of proof and the defendant does not have the right to a jury trial, for example.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 20 Apr. 2025
The case has been appealed by the defendant and is pending.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
The judge’s opinion would identify the grounds for an acquittal or for holding the defendants’ liable.
—Andrea Tinianow, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 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 30 Apr. 2025.
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