defendant - a person or institution against whom an action is brought in a court of law; the person being sued or accusedjurisprudence, law - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order" accused - a defendant in a criminal proceeding co-defendant, codefendant - a defendant who has been joined together with one or more other defendants in a single action litigant, litigator - (law) a party to a lawsuit; someone involved in litigation; "plaintiffs and defendants are both litigants" |