respondent

UK: /rɪˈspɒndənt/ US: /rɪˈspɑndənt/ ,(ri spon′dənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•spond•ent /rɪˈspɑndənt/   n. [countable]

1. one who responds.
2. Law a defendant, esp. in divorce proceedings in a court.

See -spond-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•spond•ent  (ri spon′dənt), n. 

1. a person who responds or makes reply.
2. Lawmaking a defendant, esp. in appellate and divorce proceedings.

adj. 

3. giving a response;
   answering;
   responsive.
4. Law being a respondent.
5. Psychology of or pertaining to behavior that occurs consistently in response to a particular stimulus.
6. [Obs.] corresponding.

• Latin respondent- (stem of respondēns), present participle of respondēre. See respond, -ent
• 1520–30

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

respondent / rɪˈspɒndənt/ noun

1. a person against whom a petition, esp in a divorce suit, or appeal is brought

adjective

1. a less common word for responsive