complainant

Everyday

1. (law) A complainant is a person who makes an official complaint or brings a case to a court, saying they have been wronged. tree →
2. (formal) Anyone who makes a formal complaint, for example to a company or school. tree →

In the lessons

A formal, legal word met in news about trials and complaints. It tells the reader who says they were harmed. Phrases: «the complainant said», «the complainant's lawyer».

Examples

• The complainant told the court what had happened. tree →
• The judge listened to both the complainant and the accused. tree →
• The complainant asked for the money to be returned. tree →
• The company wrote back to each complainant. tree →
• In the case, the complainant was a shop owner. tree →
• The complainant's name was kept secret. tree →

Note

Formal; in daily speech say «the person who complained». Not the same as «complaint» (what is said) or «complainer» (someone who moans a lot, informal). The other side in a criminal case is «the defendant» or «the accused».