plaintiff
gb/plˈeɪntəf/ us/plˈeɪntəf/
B2
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
B2
entity
1
Person who brings a lawsuit
A person who takes someone else to court to solve a problem or get justice.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is the plaintiff in [a case]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'plaintiff' with 'defendant'. The plaintiff is the one who starts the case, not the one defending against it.
Synonyms
complainant (More general term for someone making a formal complaint, not only in court.)
Antonyms
defendant (The person or group being accused or sued in court.)
Collocations
plaintiff's attorney
|plaintiff's complaint
|plaintiff filed
|plaintiff alleges
|plaintiff seeks
Themes
law
|court
|justice
Examples
- The plaintiff claimed that the company had breached the contract.
- In this case, the plaintiff is seeking damages for personal injury.
- The court ruled in favor of the plaintiff after reviewing the evidence.
- The plaintiff argued that the product was defective and caused harm.
- Her lawyer advised her on her rights as the plaintiff in the lawsuit.
Learner examples
- The plaintiff says the other person broke the law.
- The plaintiff went to court to ask for money.
- The judge listened to the plaintiff's story.
- The plaintiff has a lawyer to help.
- The plaintiff wants the court to make a decision.
Grammar
Dictionary form
plaintiff
IPA
GB/plˈeɪntəf/
US/plˈeɪntəf/
Syllables & stress
plaintiff (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (plaintiff)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: plaintiff
- Plural: plaintiffs
Word family
Expressions
plaintiff in error
1/plˈeɪntəf ˈɪn ˈɛɹɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
Plaintiff appealing lower court ruling
A plaintiff who asks a higher court to change a lower court's decision.
Examples
- The plaintiff in error argued that the trial court misapplied the law.
- As the plaintiff in error, she presented new evidence to support her appeal.