What is the Latin word for defendant?

The usual Latin words for “defendant” are reus, tuus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“defendant” in Latin

reusguilty tuusyour (singular), thy

The English word defendant itself goes back to Latin fendō, through dēfendō.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

defendant

reus (in a criminal process, opposed to accusator): is unde petitur; also possessor (in a civil process about meum and tuum, opposed to petitor): to be counsel for the defendant, pro reo dicere; alicui adesse (in judicio).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for defendant?: The usual Latin words for “defendant” are reus, tuus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.