Defendant

A party sued in a personal action. The term does not in strictness apply to the person opposing or denying the allegations of the demandant in a real action, who is properly called the tenant The distinction, however, is very commonly disregarded; and the term is further frequently applied to denote the person called upon to answer, either at law or in equity, and as well in criminal as civil suits.

See Clagget v. Blanchard, 8 Dana (Ky.) 41; Schuyler County v. Mercer County, 4 Gilman (111.) 20; Almy v. Piatt, 16 Wis. 169; Leavitt v. Lyons, 118 Mass. 470; Com. v. Certain Intoxicating Liquors, 122 Mass. 8;