WordValeplaintiff
the person who brings a case against another in court
In more detail
1. (noun) a person who brings a legal case against another person in court
2. (noun) a person who makes a formal complaint
Examples
- 1. The plaintiff argued that the company had treated her unfairly and demanded compensation.
- 2. The plaintiff filed a complaint with the government agency about the unsafe working conditions.
How to use plaintiff
Plaintiff is a formal legal term for someone who initiates a civil lawsuit, as opposed to a defendant who is sued. While it can also mean someone making a formal complaint more broadly, this usage is less common in modern English. It is distinctly different from criminal prosecution, where the state acts as the accuser rather than a private plaintiff.
Common phrases
- the plaintiff alleges
- plaintiff's lawyer
- on behalf of the plaintiff
- the plaintiff seeks damages
- plaintiff claims
Synonyms
complainant · claimant · accuser · petitioner
Opposites
defendant · respondent
Word family
plaintive (adjective) · plaintiff (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse plaintiff with plaintive (meaning sad or mournful), which has a different etymology despite their similar spelling. Plaintiff and defendant are also confused in direction—the plaintiff brings the case against the defendant, not vice versa.
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