Assailant: meaning, definitions and examples

Used in formal contexts, especially in legal or journalistic descriptions, to refer to someone who attacks another person.

• The police are still searching for the assailant who attacked the woman last night

A general term used to describe anyone who attacks. Suitable for both casual and formal contexts and not limited to physical confrontation; can include verbal attacks.

• The attacker was captured on security cameras as he broke into the store

Commonly used in legal contexts to describe someone who commits assault. It emphasizes the unlawful use of force.

• The assaulter was arrested and charged with battery

Often used in situations involving conflict or warfare, indicating the party that initiates the aggression. It can also be used in personal altercations but with a slightly less physical connotation than 'assailant'.

• In the dispute, he was clearly the aggressor, starting the fight without any provocation

Used to refer to someone who has physically attacked another person. This word is often used in news reports or legal contexts to describe an individual who has committed an act of violence.

• The assailant fled the scene before the police arrived.
• Witnesses described the assailant as a man in his mid-thirties.

Used in legal contexts to refer to someone who is being sued or is on trial for a crime. This term is formal and often heard in courtrooms.

• The defendant sat quietly as the jury read the verdict.
• The defense attorney argued that the defendant was innocent.

Refers to someone who has been charged with a crime but has not yet been proven guilty. Commonly used in legal contexts and news reports when discussing the judicial process.

• The accused will appear in court next Monday.
• The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Used to describe someone who has committed a crime or a wrongful act. This word often has a negative connotation and is used in both legal and informal contexts.

• Police are still searching for the perpetrator of the robbery.
• The school administrators disciplined the perpetrator of the bullying incident.