Defendant
Etymology
From Latin defendere, "to ward off, to protect" (de-, "away," + -fendere, "to strike"), by way of Old French. The word is the present-participle form, "the one defending." From the plain idea of warding off an attack, law fixed it on the party who must answer and defend against a claim.
noun · /dih-FEN-dunt/
The person or party accused or sued in a court case.
What it names
The one seated at the other table from the plaintiff or prosecutor — the party the case is brought against.
Example
The defendant sat expressionless as the charges were read aloud.
Related idea
The defendant answers the case; the plaintiff (in civil suits) or the prosecution (in criminal ones) is the side that brings it.