plaintiff Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a person who brings an action in a court of law
    complainant.

WordNet

Plain"tiff noun
Etymology
F. plaintif making complaint, plaintive; in Old French equiv. to plaignant complainant, prosecutor, fr. plaindre. See Plaint, and cf. Plaintive.
Definitions
  1. (Law) One who commences a personal action or suit to obtain a remedy for an injury to his rights; -- opposed to defendant.
Plain"tiff adjective
Definitions
  1. See Plaintive. Obs. Prior.

Webster 1913