re·spond·ent / riˈspändənt/ • n. 1. a defendant in a lawsuit, esp. one in an appeals or divorce case.2. a person who replies to something, esp. one supplying information for a survey or questionnaire or responding to an advertisement.• adj. 1. in the position of defendant in a lawsuit: the respondent defendant.2. replying to something, esp. a survey or questionnaire: the respondent firms in the survey.3. Psychol. involving or denoting a response, esp. a conditioned reflex, to a specific stimulus.

respondent Someone who offers information to a researcher, for example in response to a questionnaire, or during the course of an interview. The term ‘informant’ is often used when informal research techniques (such as unstructured interviews) have been employed. See also CASE.

RESPONDENT

Inequitypractice, the party who answers a bill or other proceeding in equity. The party against whom an appeal or motion, an application for a court order, is instituted and who is required to answer in order to protect his or her interests.