plaintiff
plain·tiff /'plān-təf/ n [Middle French plaintif, from plaintif, adj., grieving, from plaint lamentation, from Latin planctus, from plangere to strike, beat one's breast, lament]: the party who institutes a legal action or claim (as a counterclaim) see also complainant, complaint, libellant compare defendant, prosecution

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. . 1996.

plaintiff
I noun accuser, adversary, claimant, complainant, individual who brings a lawsuit, litigant, one who brings an action, opponent, party to the suit, party who sues, petitioner, petitor, suitor associated concepts: indispensable party plaintiff, nominal plaintiff, proper plaintiff, real plaintiff, third party plaintiff foreign phrases:
- Reus exclpiendo fit actor. — The defendant by pleading may make himself a plaintiff.
- Melior est conditio possidentis ubi neuter jus habet — The condition of the possessor and that of the defendant is better than that of the plaintiff
- Cum par delictum est duorum, semper oneratur petitor, et melior habetur possessoris causa. — When there is equal fault on both sides, the burden is always placed on the plaintiff, and the cause of the possessor is preferred
- In praeparatoriis ad judicium favetur actori. — In those matters preceding judgment the plaintiff is favored
II index actor, claimant, complainant, litigant, party (litigant), suitor

Burton's Legal Thesaurus. . 2006


plaintiff
n.
A person who files a complaint to start a lawsuit.

The Essential Law Dictionary. — Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. . 2008.


plaintiff
the person bringing an action in court. For Scotland See pursuer.

Collins dictionary of law. . 2001.


plaintiff
The person, corporation, or other legal entity that initiates a lawsuit seeking damages, enforcement of a contract, or a court determination of rights. In certain states and for some types of lawsuits, the term petitioner is used instead of plaintiff.
Category: Small Claims Court & Lawsuits

Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. . 2009.

plaintiff
Related links

Practical Law Dictionary. Glossary of UK, US and international legal terms. . 2010.


plaintiff
n. The party in a civil law case who brings the action in a court of law.
See also defendant.
@ plaintiff in error
Archaic.
@

Webster's New World Law Dictionary. . 2000.


plaintiff
The party who sues in a civil action; a complainant; the prosecution—that is, a state or the United States representing the people—in a criminal case.

Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.


plaintiff
I
The party who sues in a civil action; a complainant; the prosecution—that is, a state or the United States representing the people—in a criminal case.
 II A person who brings an action; the party who complains or sues in a civil action. (See complainant.)

Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.

plaintiff
n.
   the party who initiates a lawsuit by filing a complaint with the clerk of the court against the defendant(s) demanding damages, performance and/or court determination of rights.
   See also: complaint, defendant, petitioner

Law dictionary. . 2013.

Synonyms:
,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • plaintiff — plain‧tiff [ˈpleɪntf] noun [countable] LAW someone who brings a legal action against someone in a court of law; = COMPLAINANT: • plaintiffs seeking damages from cigarette manufacturers * * * plaintiff UK US /ˈpleɪntɪf/ noun [C] LAW …   Financial and business terms

  • Plaintiff — Plain tiff, n. [F. plaintif making complaint, plaintive; in Old French equiv. to plaignant complainant, prosecutor, fr. plaindre. See {Plaint}, and cf. {Plaintive}.] (Law) One who commences a personal action or suit to obtain a remedy for an… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Plaintiff — Plain tiff, a. See {Plaintive}. [Obs.] Prior. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • plaintiff — a person or business that files a formal complaint with the court (Glossary of Common Bankruptcy Terms) A person who initiates a case in Court. That person may also be referred to as the Claimant, Petitioner or Applicant. The person who is being… …   Glossary of Bankruptcy

  • plaintiff — (n.) c.1400, from Anglo Fr. pleintif (late 13c.), noun use of O.Fr. plaintif complaining, from pleint (see PLAINT (Cf. plaint)). Identical with plaintive at first; the form that receded into legal usage retained the older iff spelling …   Etymology dictionary

  • plaintiff — ► NOUN Law ▪ a person who brings a case against another in a court of law. Compare with DEFENDANT(Cf. ↑defendant). ORIGIN Old French plaintif plaintive …   English terms dictionary

  • plaintiff — [plān′tif] n. [ME plaintif < OFr, mournful, making complaint < plaindre < plainte: see PLAINT] a person who brings a suit into a court of law; complainant …   English World dictionary

  • Plaintiff — A plaintiff (Π in legal shorthand), also known as a claimant or complainant, is the term used in some jurisdictions for the party who initiates a lawsuit (also known as an action) before a court. By doing so, the plaintiff seeks a legal remedy,… …   Wikipedia

  • plaintiff — noun VERB + PLAINTIFF ▪ represent ▪ compensate PLAINTIFF + VERB ▪ bring an action (against sb), sue sb ▪ allege sth, argue sth …   Collocations dictionary

  • plaintiff — UK [ˈpleɪntɪf] / US noun [countable] Word forms plaintiff : singular plaintiff plural plaintiffs legal someone who brings a legal case against someone else in a court of law. The person against whom the case is brought is called the defendant …   English dictionary

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