defendant
noun/dɪˈfendənt/
/dɪˈfendənt/
- the person in a trial who is accused of committing a crime, or who is being sued by another person
- Several witnesses gave evidence for the defendant.
- The defendant was charged with disturbing the peace.
- The jury found the defendant guilty on all counts.
Collocations Criminal justiceCriminal justiceBreaking the lawcompare accused, plaintiff- break/violate/obey/uphold the law
- be investigated/arrested/tried for a crime/a robbery/fraud
- be arrested/ (especially North American English) indicted/convicted on charges of rape/fraud/(especially US English) felony charges
- be arrested on suspicion of arson/robbery/shoplifting
- be accused of/be charged with murder/(especially North American English) homicide/four counts of fraud
- face two charges of indecent assault
- admit your guilt/liability/responsibility (for something)
- deny the allegations/claims/charges
- confess to a crime
- grant/be refused/be released on/skip/jump bail
- stand/await/bring somebody to/come to/be on trial
- take somebody to/come to/settle something out of court
- face/avoid/escape prosecution
- seek/retain/have the right to/be denied access to legal counsel
- hold/conduct/attend/adjourn a hearing/trial
- sit on/influence/persuade/convince the jury
- sit/stand/appear/be put/place somebody in the dock
- plead guilty/not guilty to a crime
- be called to/enter (British English) the witness box
- take/put somebody on the stand/(North American English) the witness stand
- call/subpoena/question/cross-examine a witness
- give/hear the evidence against/on behalf of somebody
- raise/withdraw/overrule an objection
- reach a unanimous/majority verdict
- return/deliver/record a verdict of not guilty/unlawful killing/accidental death
- convict/acquit the defendant of the crime
- secure a conviction/your acquittal
- lodge/file an appeal
- appeal (against)/challenge/uphold/overturn a conviction/verdict
- pass sentence on somebody
- carry/face/serve a seven-year/life sentence
- receive/be given the death penalty
- be sentenced to ten years (in prison/jail)
- carry/impose/pay a fine (of $3 000)/a penalty (of 14 years' imprisonment)
- be imprisoned/jailed for drug possession/fraud/murder
- do/serve time/ten years
- be sent to/put somebody in/be released from jail/prison
- be/put somebody/spend X years on death row
- be granted/be denied/break (your) parole
Extra ExamplesTopics Law and justicec1- The defendant was convicted of murder.
- The defendant was sentenced to three years in prison.
- a defendant being sued by an insurance company
- a defendant in bankruptcy proceedings
- the plaintiff's claim against the defendant
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- criminal
- convicted
- guilty
- …
- accuse
- charge
- prosecute
- …
- plead guilt
- plead not guilty
- against the defendant
- for the defendant
- defendant in
- …
Word OriginMiddle English (as an adjective in the sense ‘defending’): from Old French, ‘warding off’, present participle of defendre, from Latin defendere, from de- ‘off’ + -fendere ‘to strike’.
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defendant