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defendant — a person who is required to answer a charge or claim in a court of law

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: a person who is required to answer a charge or claim in a court of law

Pronunciation (IPA): /dɪˈfendənt/

Example Sentences

  • The defendant looked nervous as he entered the courtroom wearing his lucky socks.
  • The judge asked the defendant to stand while the verdict was read.
  • The defendant's alibi was that he was busy teaching his cat to play chess.

defendant

NOUN

[/dɪˈfendənt/]

a person who is required to answer a charge or claim in a court of law

The defendant stands in court while the judge listens to the case.
💡 Concept

The defendant stands in court while the judge listens to the case.

The defendant looked like a tiny ant standing beside a giant judge and needing a defense. (DEFEND + ANT → a tiny ant that needs defending = defendant)
🧠 Mnemonic

The defendant looked like a tiny ant standing beside a giant judge and needing a defense. (DEFEND + ANT → a tiny ant that needs defending = defendant)

"The defendant must defend it — every charge, every claim, until the jury has penned it."
🎵 Rhyme

"The defendant must defend it — every charge, every claim, until the jury has penned it."

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/dɪˈfendənt/
🇬🇧 UK/dɪˈfendənt/

🌳Etymology

Rootdefend
Suffix--ant

Origin

The word derives from Latin 'defendere', combining 'de' (down) and 'fendere' (to strike, ward off). The literal sense of 'warding off from below' evolved to mean 'to defend', and subsequently came to denote a person who defends themselves in court.

Breakdown

de- (down, away) + -fendere (to strike, ward off). The suffix -ant was added to form the agent noun, indicating 'one who defends'.

🎵Rhyme

attendantpendantdependent
attendant
pendant
dependent

🔗Collocations

criminal defendant
defendant's rights
defendant testified
acquit the defendant
defendant's counsel
charge the defendant

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“The defendant looked nervous as he entered the courtroom wearing his lucky socks.”

“The judge asked the defendant to stand while the verdict was read.”

😄 Fun example

“The defendant's alibi was that he was busy teaching his cat to play chess.”

“Both the plaintiff and defendant agreed to settle out of court.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

accusedrespondentpartylitigant

Antonyms

plaintiffprosecutoraccuser

Related

defenseattorneycourttriallawsuittestimony

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