: 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 WebJane, who is John's legal guardian, put herself forward as the plaintiff in the suit both individual and on her brother's behalf. Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 5 Sep. 2022 Still, conservatives have raced to find a plaintiff. Tony Romm, Jeff Stein And Danielle Douglas-gabriel, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Sep. 2022 One problem for any potential lawsuit is finding a plaintiff for it. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 31 Aug. 2022 The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin is representing the residents, including Jarrett English and a plaintiff who did not wish to be named. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2022 The 230-year-old Court of Chancery typically handles civil cases where a plaintiff is seeking non-monetary damages.CBS News, 19 July 2022 The practical result is a 'mandatory injunction' directing the defendant to surrender the property to the plaintiff. Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 11 July 2022 Yuga Labs was not sympathetic to the plaintiff’s claims. Matt Pearcestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2022 The deal will help end a discrimination lawsuit against U.S. Soccer by dozens of women’s players in which Ms. Morgan served as lead plaintiff. Rachel Bachman, WSJ, 26 May 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English plaintif, from Anglo-French, from pleintif, adjective
VERB + PLAINTIFF | PLAINTIFF + VERB | PREPOSITIONVERB + PLAINTIFF➤represent代表原告▸➤compensate賠償原告PLAINTIFF + VERB➤bring an action (against sb), sue sb原告(對某人)提出起訴;原告控告某人▸➤allege sth, argue sth, claim sth, contend sth, seek sth原告聲稱⋯/辯稱⋯/主張⋯/爭辯⋯/謀求⋯◇The plaintiff claimed that the correct procedures had not been followed.原告聲稱未履行正確的程序。➤obtain sth (BrE) 原告獲得⋯◇The plaintiffs obtained an injunction in the High Court.原告方在高等法院得到了禁制令。PREPOSITION➤against the plaintiff不利於原告◇Costs were awarded against the plaintiff.訴訟費判定由原告承擔。➤on behalf of the plaintiff代表原告◇the lawyer appearing on behalf of the plaintiff代表原告出庭的律師