Accused vs. Defendant

Accusedverb

simple past tense and past participle of accuse

Accusednoun

(legal) The person charged with an offense; the defendant in a criminal case.

Accusedadjective

Having been accused; being the target of accusations.

Accusedadjective

Charged with offense; as, an accused person.

Accusednoun

a defendant in a criminal proceeding

Accusednoun

a person or group of people who are charged with or on trial for a crime

Defendantnoun

(legal) In civil proceedings, the party responding to the complaint; one who is sued and called upon to make satisfaction for a wrong complained of by another.

Defendantnoun

(legal) In criminal proceedings, the accused.

Defendantadjective

Serving, or suitable, for defense; defensive.

Defendantadjective

Serving, or suitable, for defense; defensive.

Defendantadjective

Making defense.

Defendantnoun

One who defends; a defender.

Defendantnoun

A person required to make answer in an action or suit; - opposed to plaintiff.

Defendantnoun

a person or institution against whom an action is brought in a court of law; the person being sued or accused

Defendant

In court proceedings, a defendant is a person who is the party either accused of committing a crime in criminal prosecution or against whom some type of civil relief is being sought in a civil case. Terminology varies from one jurisdiction to another.