"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.) …

PLAINTIFF definition: a person who brings suit in a court (opposed to defendant). See examples of plaintiff used in a sentence.

/ ˈpleɪn·tɪf / Add to word list a person who accuses someone else in a law case of having done something illegal (Definition of plaintiff from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © …

Plaintiff is the party who initiates a lawsuit in a civil case by filing a complaint against the defendant or, in some proceedings, the respondent (depending on the type of civil case).

A plaintiff (Π in legal shorthand) is the party who initiates a lawsuit (also known as an action) before a court. By doing so, the plaintiff seeks a legal remedy.

Definition of plaintiff noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Apr 3, 2026 · Plaintiff, the party who brings a legal action or in whose name it is brought—as opposed to the defendant, the party who is being sued. The term corresponds to petitioner in equity and civil law …

Mar 1, 2026 · A plaintiff is the person who brings a lawsuit — and with that role comes specific rights, responsibilities, and rules to follow. A plaintiff is the person or entity that starts a civil lawsuit by filing …

one who brings a legal action or suit in a court (opposed to defendant). Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random …

A plaintiff is the person, company, or government entity that brings a legal claim against another party in a court of law. The plaintiff alleges that a legal right has been violated and asks the court for relief.