defendant

N. In a civil case, the person or organization sued by the plaintiff or claimant.

In a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.

Those of us who practise in the criminal courts are aware of the adverse feeling which can be generated against a defendant before a trial starts.

defence UK defense US

N. countable - the things that are said in a court to prove that someone is not guilty of a crime

one of his defences was that he had been provoked.

the defence UK defense US

N.­ the lawyers working for the defendant

The defence proved that he could not have been present at the scene of the crime. A witness for the defence provided an alibi.