formal 10K+

Plaintiff

UK //ˈpleɪn.tɪf// US //ˈpleɪn.tɪf// Pronunciation

Definition

A person who sues another in a court of law.

Listen to definition

In simple words: A person who brings a case to court.

Examples

• The plaintiff presented strong evidence during the trial.
• As the plaintiff, she felt a sense of duty to seek justice.
• The court ruled in favor of the plaintiff after reviewing the facts.
• The plaintiff’s attorney argued passionately for their rights.
• In this case, the plaintiff alleges breach of contract.

Usage notes

Used in legal contexts. It's appropriate in court settings and formal documents but not in casual conversations.

Grammar pattern

plaintiff + verb

Memory hint

Think of 'plain' + 'tiff' - a person who expresses complaints in a court.

Collocations

• plaintiff's claim
• plaintiff's rights
• plaintiff's attorney
• plaintiff vs defendant

Synonyms

• complainant
• claimant
• litigant
• accuser

Common mistakes

• Confused with 'defendant' - remember the plaintiff starts the case, while the defendant responds.
• Using it in non-legal contexts - 'plaintiff' is specific to law.
• Mispronouncing - often confused with similar sounding legal terms.