What does plaintiff mean?
A plaintiff is the person who begins a civil legal proceeding by making a claim against another person or organization. If the claim succeeds, the plaintiff may receive money, property, damages, or another form of relief; if it fails, the defendant may prevail. The word is most often used in lawsuits, contract disputes, and other formal civil proceedings. In ordinary conversation, “claimant” may sound less technical, while “complainant” is also common in some legal systems. The word should not be confused with “defendant,” which identifies the party responding to the lawsuit. Although closely associated with complaints in everyday English, a plaintiff is not merely someone who voices a grievance: they are the formal party initiating a legal claim.
nounA person who brings a civil action or legal proceeding against another person or organization. Also, by extension, the party who initiates a lawsuit or claim.
- A person who initiates a civil action or legal proceeding against another party.
"The plaintiff presented evidence that the company had breached the agreement."
"The plaintiff alleged that the defendant had violated the terms of the contract."
"After the settlement was approved, the plaintiff and defendant issued a joint statement."
The plural refers to multiple people or parties who bring legal claims, whether separately or together.
"Several plaintiffs filed claims against the same manufacturer."
In a civil case, the plaintiff starts the story, but the evidence helps decide how it ends.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does plaintiff come from?
The word entered English through Anglo-French and Old French, where plaintif meant “complaining” or “a plaintiff.” It reflects the Latin stem plaint-, associated with expressing sorrow or complaint and with words such as complain and complaint. Over time, the legal noun came to refer specifically to the person who brings a civil action.
How plaintiff is actually used
The term is primarily used in legal and formal contexts. In some jurisdictions, especially in criminal proceedings, the person bringing a case is called the prosecution or the complainant rather than the plaintiff.
Easily confused with plaintiff
A plaintiff begins a civil lawsuit or legal proceeding, while a defendant is the person or organization being sued or defending against the claim.