Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

criminal-defendant

noun

ˈkrɪm.ɪ.nəl dɪˈfɛn.dənt

Definition

A criminal-defendant is a person who is accused of committing a crime and is facing legal proceedings in a criminal court.

Examples

The criminal-defendant appeared in court for the first time to enter a plea.
As a criminal-defendant, he had the right to be represented by an attorney.
The jury listened carefully to the evidence presented against the criminal-defendant.

Meaning

In the context of law, the term ‘criminal-defendant’ refers to an individual who is accused of violating criminal laws and is responding to those allegations in court. They are entitled to a fair trial and to defend themselves against the charges.