plaintiffs

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'plaintiffs' is a correct and commonly used word in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to refer to a person or group of people who bring a case or lawsuit against someone else in a court of law. Example: The plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit alleged that the company had engaged in fraudulent practices, causing financial harm to its customers.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What's unusual about the New Jersey bar case is that the plaintiffs are not the familiar type in these cases: motorists or stop-and-frisk victims outraged by what they say are invasive searches and a willful disregard by police for privacy rights.

The Guardian

Yet lawsuits require plaintiffs to have suffered some kind of cognizable harm before they can have their day in court.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's why they offered their children's names among the lawsuit plaintiffs.

The Guardian

The plaintiffs in this case are law enforcement officers themselves, suing through a police union.

The Guardian

The court ruling said that if Argentina did not give the plaintiffs all the money they were due, it would be refused access to the US banking system to make its other interest payments, which are due on 30 June.

The Guardian - Business

One of the lead plaintiffs in the suit, Ave Maria University, is Santorum's kind of place.

The Guardian - Opinion

Attorneys representing the plaintiffs in a potentially billion dollar antitrust class-action lawsuit against Apple for abuse of its iTunes Music Store dominance told the jury that the Californian electronics company scanned for music not bought from iTunes, and forced a factory reset of the iPod if any was detected.

The Guardian - Tech

Atlas argued that the information it obtained from the cheek swabs was not "genetic information" under the statute because it did not reveal anything about the plaintiffs' propensities for disease.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Multiple videotapes of the events do not show that the plaintiffs were ever granted permission" to block traffic on the bridge roadway, though they say officers implied they could, a Law Department spokesman, Nick Paolucci, said.

The Guardian

Turning to the plain language of Gina, which defines genetic information to include an "individual's genetic tests" without any qualification, she ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.

The Guardian - Opinion

How can we remind him to consider the needs of his plaintiffs?

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal cases, ensure you accurately identify "plaintiffs" as those initiating the lawsuit. Distinguish them clearly from the defendants.

Common error

Avoid using "plaintiffs" and "defendants" interchangeably. "Plaintiffs" initiate the lawsuit, while "defendants" are those against whom the lawsuit is brought. Incorrectly identifying these parties can significantly alter the meaning of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "plaintiffs" is as a noun, specifically a plural noun, referring to the group of individuals or entities who initiate a legal action. Ludwig confirms this usage through its examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "plaintiffs" is a plural noun designating those who initiate legal proceedings. As Ludwig confirms, it's grammatically sound and very common, predominantly appearing in news, business, and science-related contexts. When using "plaintiffs", ensure clear differentiation from "defendants" to avoid confusion. Consider alternative terms like "claimants" or "litigants" to fine-tune the emphasis of your writing. Remember that accurate use reflects credibility and legal acumen.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

claimants

Replaces "plaintiffs" with a term that emphasizes the act of making a claim, suitable when the focus is on the assertion rather than the legal process.

litigants

Offers a more formal alternative, applicable when referring to all parties involved in a lawsuit, not just those initiating it.

complainants

Similar to "plaintiffs" but emphasizes the act of complaining or alleging wrongdoing.

appellants

Refers specifically to parties who appeal a decision to a higher court.

petitioners

Used when the legal action involves a petition to a court, rather than a formal lawsuit.

suitors

An older, more literary term for "plaintiffs" or those who bring a case to court.

moving parties

A general term for the party initiating a legal motion or action.

accusers

Highlights the act of accusing someone of wrongdoing, often used in criminal cases.

aggrieved parties

Emphasizes the harm or grievance suffered by the party bringing the action.

injured parties

Focuses on the injury or damage suffered by those bringing a legal case.

FAQs

How is "plaintiffs" used in legal writing?

"Plaintiffs" refers to the party or parties who initiate a lawsuit or legal action against another party, known as the defendant. They are the ones seeking legal remedy or compensation.

What's the difference between "claimants" and "plaintiffs"?

While both terms refer to parties making a claim, "plaintiffs" specifically refers to those initiating a lawsuit in a court of law. "Claimants" can also refer to individuals making claims outside of a formal court setting, such as insurance or benefit claims.

What is the singular form of "plaintiffs"?

The singular form of "plaintiffs" is plaintiff. It refers to a single person or entity who initiates a lawsuit.

Can I use "complainants" instead of "plaintiffs"?

In some contexts, yes, but it's important to consider that "complainants" might be used more broadly to describe someone who makes a complaint, whereas "plaintiffs" is specific to those who file a lawsuit in court.