Definition of complainantnext
as in plaintiff
the person in a legal proceeding who makes a charge of wrongdoing against another the complainant charged that the defendant had broken the ironclad contract that both had signed

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of complainant The statement said that per the state Government Data Practices Act, the existence and status of the complaints are public, but complainants’ names, the nature of the complaints and other related information are not. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2026 The complainant told police the check was in an envelope handed to a clerk at the Bridgeview post office. Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026 While his name is redacted in the interview, an email sent days later identifies the complainant as officer Michael Kearins, and a subpoena for Kearins by OIG agents is included in the files. Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 21 Mar. 2026 Two of the claimants were complainants who gave evidence ​during Spacey's 2023 criminal trial in London, where ​the now 66-year-old actor was acquitted of all charges. Reuters, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for complainant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complainant
plaintiff
Noun
  • The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, is seeking monetary damages and a jury trial.
    Lexi Nicklaus, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2026
  • On Monday, Gregory Craig, the attorney for the National Trust, wrote to Assistant Attorney General Breet Shumate, who had urged the plaintiffs to drop the case, citing the events at the Correspondents’ Dinner.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Complainant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complainant. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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