der Beklagte
defendant
A person or organization against whom a lawsuit is filed in a civil case. The counterpart is the plaintiff.
EXAMPLE
Der Beklagte wurde zur Zahlung von Schadensersatz verurteilt.
The defendant was ordered to pay damages.
der Beklagte
defendant
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
'Der Beklagte' (the defendant) is a nominalized past participle of the verb 'beklagen' (in the legal sense: to sue someone). So it literally describes the person who is 'beklagt' or sued.
EXAMPLE
Die Person, die eine Klage einreicht, ist der Kläger, die andere der Beklagte.
The person who files a lawsuit is the plaintiff; the other is the defendant.
Adjectival declension
Since this noun developed from a participle, it is declined like an adjective. Pay attention to the endings after the article: 'der Beklagte' (the defendant), 'dem Beklagten' (to the defendant), 'den Beklagten' (the defendant as accusative object).
EXAMPLE
Das Gericht gab dem Beklagten recht.
The court ruled in favor of the defendant.
Register: technical language
This word belongs to legal terminology. It is used almost exclusively in the context of court proceedings and legal texts.
EXAMPLE
Der Anwalt riet dem Beklagten, die Aussage zu verweigern.
The lawyer advised the defendant to refuse to testify.
In real life
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