Plaintiff: meaning, definitions and examples
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plaintiff
[ ˈpleɪntɪf ]
legal term
A person who brings a case against another in a court of law.
Synonyms
claimant, complainant, petitioner.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
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plaintiff |
Used in legal settings to describe the person who initiates a lawsuit in a court of law.
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complainant |
Mostly used in legal or official complaints to describe the person who files a complaint, often in criminal cases or administrative settings.
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petitioner |
Refers to someone who formally requests something, often seen in legal or governmental settings, and not always negative.
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claimant |
Can be used in legal contexts, similar to 'plaintiff,' or in situations where someone is making a claim for something, such as insurance.
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Examples of usage
- The plaintiff claimed that the defendant had breached the contract.
- The plaintiff is seeking damages for emotional distress.
legal term
The party that initiates a legal action before a court.
Synonyms
accuser, litigant, prosecutor.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
plaintiff |
Used in civil court cases where a person initiates a lawsuit against another party to seek legal relief.
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prosecutor |
Used specifically in criminal cases to refer to the legal representative who brings charges against the accused party on behalf of the state or government.
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litigant |
Used to refer to any party involved in a lawsuit, whether they are the plaintiff, defendant, or other participants.
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accuser |
Generally used in both formal and informal contexts where someone claims that another person has done something wrong, often criminally.
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Examples of usage
- The plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the company for discrimination.
- The plaintiff must prove their case in court.
Translations
Translations of the word "plaintiff" in other languages:
🇵🇹 autor
🇮🇳 वादी
🇩🇪 Kläger
🇮🇩 penggugat
🇺🇦 позивач
🇵🇱 powód
🇯🇵 原告
🇫🇷 demandeur
🇪🇸 demandante
🇹🇷 davacı
🇰🇷 원고
🇸🇦 مدعي
🇨🇿 žalobce
🇸🇰 žalobca
🇨🇳 原告
🇸🇮 tožnik
🇮🇸 stefnandi
🇰🇿 талапкер
🇬🇪 მოსარჩელე
🇦🇿 iddiaçı
🇲🇽 demandante
Etymology
The word 'plaintiff' originated from the Middle French word 'plaintif', which means 'complaining'. It entered the English language in the late 14th century. In legal contexts, a plaintiff is the party that brings a case against another in a court of law, seeking a legal remedy.