DEFENDANTS Meaning and
Definition
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Defendants, in the context of law and legal proceedings, refer to individuals or entities who are accused of committing a crime or are being sued in a civil case. They are usually the party against whom a legal action or lawsuit is initiated by the prosecution or plaintiff. Defendants have the right to defend themselves and present evidence to counter the allegations made against them.
In criminal cases, defendants are those who stand trial for offenses ranging from minor infractions to serious crimes. They are presumed innocent until proven guilty and possess certain rights, such as the right to legal representation, the right to remain silent, and the right to a fair trial. Defendants in criminal cases can be found guilty or acquitted based on the evidence presented and the verdict rendered by the judge or jury.
In civil cases, defendants can be individuals, businesses, organizations, or government bodies against which a claim or lawsuit is filed by the plaintiff seeking compensation or resolution for alleged wrongdoing or harm caused. Defendants in civil cases are expected to defend themselves against the claims made by the plaintiff through legal representation or by presenting evidence challenging the validity of the allegations.
The role of defendants in legal proceedings is crucial for the administration of justice, serving as the counterpart to the prosecution or plaintiff. Defendants have the right to exercise their defense, provide evidence, and argue their case to protect their rights and interests throughout the legal process.
Top Common Misspellings for DEFENDANTS *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for DEFENDANTS
Etymology of DEFENDANTS
The word "defendants" has Latin origins. It comes from the Latin word "defendere", which means "to defend" or "to protect". The suffix "-ant" in "defendant" is commonly used in Latin-based words to indicate a person or entity performing a particular action or having a specific quality. Therefore, "defendant" can be understood as a person who is defending themselves against an accusation or claim in a legal context.
Similar spelling words for DEFENDANTS
- deviant,
- dependence,
- defendable,
- dependance,
- deafened,
- dependant on,
- defending,
- dependant,
- dependable,
- depend on,
- dependency,
- dependably,
- defender,
- defendant,
- dependent,
- defiant.
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