plaintiff
noun
plain·tiff ˈplān-təf 
: a person who brings a legal action compare defendant
Did you know?
We won't complain about the origins of plaintiff, although complain and plaintiff are distantly related; both can be traced back to plangere, a Latin word meaning "to strike, beat one's breast, or lament." Plaintiff comes most immediately from Middle English plaintif, itself an Anglo-French borrowing tracing back to plaint, meaning "lamentation." (The English word plaintive is also related.) Logically enough, plaintiff applies to the one who does the complaining in a legal case.
Synonyms
- complainant
- suer
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the judge ruled that the plaintiff's lawsuit was groundless, and he dismissed it
Recent Examples on the Web Jane, who is John's legal guardian, put herself forward as the plaintiff in the suit both individual and on her brother's behalf. 
Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 5 Sep. 2022 Still, conservatives have raced to find a plaintiff. Tony Romm, Jeff Stein And Danielle Douglas-gabriel, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Sep. 2022 One problem for any potential lawsuit is finding a plaintiff for it. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 31 Aug. 2022 The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin is representing the residents, including Jarrett English and a plaintiff who did not wish to be named. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2022 The 230-year-old Court of Chancery typically handles civil cases where a plaintiff is seeking non-monetary damages. CBS News, 19 July 2022 The practical result is a 'mandatory injunction' directing the defendant to surrender the property to the plaintiff. Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 11 July 2022 Yuga Labs was not sympathetic to the plaintiff’s claims. Matt Pearcestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2022 The deal will help end a discrimination lawsuit against U.S. Soccer by dozens of women’s players in which Ms. Morgan served as lead plaintiff. Rachel Bachman, WSJ, 26 May 2022 See More
Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 5 Sep. 2022 Still, conservatives have raced to find a plaintiff. Tony Romm, Jeff Stein And Danielle Douglas-gabriel, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Sep. 2022 One problem for any potential lawsuit is finding a plaintiff for it. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 31 Aug. 2022 The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin is representing the residents, including Jarrett English and a plaintiff who did not wish to be named. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2022 The 230-year-old Court of Chancery typically handles civil cases where a plaintiff is seeking non-monetary damages. CBS News, 19 July 2022 The practical result is a 'mandatory injunction' directing the defendant to surrender the property to the plaintiff. Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 11 July 2022 Yuga Labs was not sympathetic to the plaintiff’s claims. Matt Pearcestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2022 The deal will help end a discrimination lawsuit against U.S. Soccer by dozens of women’s players in which Ms. Morgan served as lead plaintiff. Rachel Bachman, WSJ, 26 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English plaintif, from Anglo-French, from pleintif, adjective
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Legal Definition
plaintiff
noun
plain·tiff ˈplān-təf
: the party who institutes a legal action or claim (as a counterclaim) see also complainant, complaint, libellant compare defendant, prosecution
plaintiff
noun
as in complainant
the person in a legal proceeding who makes a charge of wrongdoing against another the judge ruled that the plaintiff's lawsuit was groundless, and he dismissed it Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- complainant
- appellant
- accuser
- petitioner
- litigant
- suer
- party
- pleader
- suitor
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- defendant
- accused