Defendant

In criminal cases, the person accused of the crime. In civil matters, the person or organization that is being sued.

The person against whom a lawsuit is filed is usually called the defendant. In some states, or in certain types of actions, the defendant is called the respondent. The term respondent is also used to designate the person responding to an appeal.

At common law a defendant cannot have judgment to recover a sum of money of the plaintiff, but this rule is, in some cases, altered by statute.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.

The person, company or organization who defends a legal action taken by a plaintiff and against whom the court has been asked to order damages or specific corrective action redress some type of unlawful or improper action alleged by the plaintiff. - (read more on Defendant)
  

In civil proceedings, the party responding to the complaint; one whois sued and called upon to make satisfaction for a wrong complained of byanother. In criminal proceedings, the accused.