plaintiff
noun /ˈpleɪntɪf/
/ˈpleɪntɪf/
(also less frequent complainant)
(law)- a person who makes a formal complaint against somebody in court
- The court upheld the plaintiff’s claim for damages.
- The plaintiff must prove that the defendant was negligent.
Extra ExamplesTopics Law and justicec2- The plaintiff claimed that the correct procedures had not been followed.
- The plaintiffs obtained an injunction in the High Court.
- the lawyer appearing on behalf of the plaintiff
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + plaintiff- represent
- compensate
- bring an action (against somebody)
- sue somebody
- allege something
- …
- against the plaintiff
- on behalf of the plaintiff
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French plaintif ‘plaintive’ (used as a noun). The -f ending has come down through Law French; the word was originally the same as plaintive.