complainant

noun

com·​plain·​ant kəm-ˈplā-nənt How to pronounce complainant (audio)
Synonyms of complainantnext
1
: the party who makes the complaint in a legal action or proceeding
2
: one who complains

Synonyms of complainant

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Examples of complainant in a Sentence

the complainant charged that the defendant had broken the ironclad contract that both had signed
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
One anonymous complainant told the department that an elderly man had nearly drowned in the pool and was taken to a hospital. — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026 The complainant alleged that the driver of a minivan had pointed a firearm at them a few towns over. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026 The complainant, who was not identified in the initial case report, said Celeste was attacked by a dog and dragged through the woods. — Rafael Escalera Montoto, Arkansas Online, 5 Aug. 2026 None of the six complainants can be identified for legal reasons. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for complainant

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of complainant was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

complain
complainant
complainer
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Cite this Entry

“Complainant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complainant. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

complainant

noun
com·​plain·​ant kəm-ˈplā-nənt How to pronounce complainant (audio)
1
: one who makes a legal complaint
2
: one who complains

Legal Definition

complainant

noun
com·​plain·​ant kəm-ˈplā-nənt How to pronounce complainant (audio)
: the party (as a plaintiff or petitioner) who makes the complaint in a legal action or proceeding

More from Merriam-Webster on complainant

Nglish: Translation of complainant for Spanish Speakers

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