: a person who brings a legal action compare defendant
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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.
the judge ruled that the plaintiff's lawsuit was groundless, and he dismissed it
Recent Examples on the WebThe panel gave the plaintiffs a week to seek relief from the Supreme Court.—Adam Liptak, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024 The state was sued and the plaintiffs, represented by the Center for Reproductive Rights, prevailed.—Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 Lawyers for the plaintiffs and the defendants declined requests for comment, citing the ongoing legal proceedings.—Zoya Teirstein / Grist, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 The plaintiffs in this lawsuit included lobbies for builders, restaurants, hotels and convenience stores.—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 The plaintiff later got permission to amend the suit with his real name.—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 12 Mar. 2024 The plaintiff and her attorney argued that Bucklew used his position to groom her, and that others at the school knew, or should have known, that Bucklew was developing the inappropriate relationship with his victim.—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024 Stephen Miller, a senior White House adviser in the Trump administration, is actively seeking plaintiffs to file more claims.—Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024 With discovery long finished, a trial could be calendared in the next six months or so, plaintiff attorney Brian Hochman told the Observer Monday.—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plaintiff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English plaintif, from Anglo-French, from pleintif, adjective
Middle French plaintif, from plaintif, adj., grieving, from plaint lamentation, from Latin planctus, from plangere to strike, beat one's breast, lament
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