A defendant is a person who is accused of a crime or sued in court and must defend themselves against the charges.
It comes from Old French “defendant,” the present participle of “defendre,” “to defend,” from Latin “defendere.” It literally means “the one defending.”
The word quietly reminds you that the person on trial is, by definition, defending themselves. It frames the courtroom as a place where accusations must be answered, not just accepted.
In many legal systems, language around defendants historically reflected gendered assumptions about who commits which types of crimes (e.g., violent crimes coded as male, moral or domestic offenses coded as female). Courtroom discourse and media coverage often described women defendants in terms of appearance, motherhood, or sexuality rather than strictly legal status.
Use 'defendant' as a neutral legal role without assumptions about gender, character, or typical offenses. Avoid gendered stereotypes when describing defendants’ motives or credibility.
["accused person","respondent (where legally appropriate)"]
Women lawyers, judges, and legal scholars have been central in challenging gendered treatment of defendants and reforming evidentiary and sentencing practices.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.