From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishplaintiffplain‧tiff /ˈpleɪntɪf/ noun [countable] SCTsomeone who brings a legal action against another person in a court of law SYN complainant British English → defendant
Examples from the Corpus
plaintiff• Ten plaintiffs are suing the companies for damages from the blast.• So the plaintiffs called Fung back on their rebuttal case to tell jurors he had goofed.• The defendants supplied a chemical to the plaintiffs but failed to warn that it was liable to explode on contact with water.• It is that legal fiction which the health authority relies upon in denying liability to the plaintiff.• This could apply where the plaintiff has made an unreasonable use of the product.• The plaintiffs devoted much of their rebuttal case Wednesday to damage control.From Longman Business Dictionaryplaintiffplain‧tiff /ˈpleɪntɪf/ noun [countable]LAW someone who brings a LEGAL ACTION against someone in a court of lawSYNCOMPLAINANTplaintiffs seeking damages from cigarette manufacturersOrigin plaintiff (1300-1400) Old French plaintif; → PLAINTIVE 