complainant

USAGE SUMMARY

The word complainant is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used when referring to someone who has filed a legal complaint, such as in the sentence: "The complainant alleged that the defendant had committed fraud."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, it is possible that the complaint will be thrown out because it is understood that the complainant – said to be Wayne Karlen, a constant critic of the paper on Twitter – is not Jewish.

The Guardian

In particular, the provision of information to the students who took part in the trip was insufficient and inadequate, and meant the daughter of the complainant did not possess the knowledge necessary to give informed consent".

The Guardian

In the finding released by the BBC Trust it said the complainant "alleged the BBC had failed to obtain informed consent from the students who travelled to North Korea and the risk that Mr X considered had been caused to them and the guides as a result of the BBC's deception".

The Guardian

The matter was referred up to the executive editor for TV current affairs, Clive Edwards, who told the complainant his daughter would not be used in the film but "said that the deception used to film the programme was justified by the public interest and proportionate".

The Guardian

One of the things we've already learned is that you can't always assume who the complainant is.

The Guardian - Tech

The complainant to the Guardian said: "They still post only extremely biased, offensive, trolling commentary – including insulting your correspondent, Luke Harding, whom they libel as a 'Russian hater' and mock as 'Luke Happyman'".

The Guardian - Opinion

He also accused the head of the BBC's editorial complaints unit, Fraser Steel, of writing to promise a complainant that Lawson could never appear on Today programme again, and suggests the BBC apologised to the complainant for allowing Lawson on the show.

The Guardian

The CO will investigate the complaint, and may liaise with the complainant.

The Guardian

He was also accused of threatening to kill a complainant on 26 September.

The Guardian - Music

We don't know who the complainants are because Google won't tell us, so that means the best way of finding out the identity of the complainant is by searching for the person's name on the relevant domain and seeing if it fails to return the article.

The Guardian - Tech

"However, this has not satisfied the complainant," National said in a statement.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "complainant" when you want a neutral term to indicate the person who made the original claim or reported an incident, without implying guilt or blame.

Common error

Avoid using "complainant" interchangeably with "defendant". The "complainant" initiates the legal action, while the defendant is the party against whom the action is brought. Using the terms incorrectly can lead to confusion and misrepresentation of the legal process.

Linguistic Context

The term "complainant" functions as a noun, designating the individual or entity that initiates a complaint, particularly in legal or formal settings. Ludwig AI provides examples from news media and legal documents confirming this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Formal & Business

31%

Science

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "complainant" is a noun that refers to the party who makes a complaint, typically in a legal or formal context. According to Ludwig, this term is grammatically correct and very common, appearing frequently in news and formal documents. When writing about legal matters, use "complainant" to accurately identify the individual filing the complaint, distinguishing them from the defendant. Be mindful not to confuse this term with "defendant". Consider synonyms like "plaintiff" or "claimant" depending on the specific situation and context. Always ensure clear and accurate language to avoid misrepresentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

plaintiff

Refers specifically to the party bringing a civil lawsuit; more formal legal context.

claimant

General term for someone making a claim, often in insurance or benefits contexts.

appellant

The party appealing a decision to a higher court; specific to appellate proceedings.

accuser

Implies a direct accusation, often in criminal or ethical contexts.

litigant

A party involved in a lawsuit.

petitioner

Someone who presents a formal request to a court or other authority.

grievant

Someone who has a grievance, especially in employment disputes.

informant

A person who provides information, usually to law enforcement; implies secrecy.

whistleblower

Someone who exposes wrongdoing; often involves ethical or legal violations.

alleging party

A more descriptive phrase specifying the role of the person making an accusation.

FAQs

How is the term "complainant" typically used in legal contexts?

In legal contexts, "complainant" refers to the party who initiates a legal action or files a formal complaint against another party. This term is commonly used in both civil and criminal proceedings to identify the person bringing the case forward.

What are some alternatives to using "complainant" in writing?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "plaintiff" (in civil cases), "accuser" (when an accusation is made), or "claimant" (in claims-based scenarios) instead of "complainant".

Is "complainant" a neutral term, or does it imply a judgment about the validity of the complaint?

"Complainant" is generally considered a neutral term. It simply identifies the person who made the complaint without implying anything about the truthfulness or validity of their allegations. The merits of the complaint are determined through investigation or legal proceedings.

How does "complainant" differ from "victim"?

While both terms relate to someone who has experienced harm, "complainant" specifically refers to someone who has filed a formal complaint regarding that harm. "Victim" /s/victim indicates someone who has suffered harm, regardless of whether they have filed a complaint. A complainant may or may not be considered a victim, and vice versa.