respondent: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Academic, Legal, Business
Quick answer
What does “respondent” mean?
A person who replies to something, especially one supplying information for a survey or questionnaire, or the defending party in a legal case.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who replies to something, especially one supplying information for a survey or questionnaire, or the defending party in a legal case.
More broadly, anyone who provides a response or answer to a query, stimulus, or legal petition. In academia, it can refer to a defendant in an appeal or a participant in research.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Legal usage is identical. In survey contexts, BE may slightly prefer 'participant' for academic research, while AE firmly uses 'respondent' for any survey.
Connotations
Neutral in both, though can carry a slight bureaucratic/impersonal tone in survey contexts.
Frequency
Higher frequency in AE in market research and polling contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “respondent” in a Sentence
[be] + respondent + to + (survey/appeal)[act as/serve as] + respondent[identify/target] + respondentsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “respondent” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The respondent party filed a counterclaim.
American English
- The respondent company declined to comment on the appeal.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Our target respondents for the customer satisfaction survey are recent purchasers.
Academic
The study secured over 500 respondents through an online platform.
Everyday
I was a respondent in a poll about local recycling habits.
Technical
The appellant argued the respondent had breached the contractual duty.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “respondent”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “respondent”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “respondent”
- Using 'respondent' as a verb (e.g., 'I respondent to the survey' – incorrect).
- Confusing 'respondent' (defendant) with 'plaintiff' (prosecutor) in legal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The verb form is 'to respond'. 'Respondent' is only a noun (and rarely a related adjective).
In general law, a 'defendant' is the person accused. 'Respondent' is specifically the defending party in an appeal or certain petitions (e.g., divorce). All respondents are defendants in that case, but not all defendants are called respondents.
Typically yes, but it can refer to entities like companies or governments in legal contexts (e.g., 'The respondent state').
Yes, this is the standard, formal term for people who complete a survey or questionnaire.
A person who replies to something, especially one supplying information for a survey or questionnaire, or the defending party in a legal case.
Respondent is usually formal, academic, legal, business in register.
Respondent: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈspɒn.dənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /rəˈspɑːn.dənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific; it's a formal term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A respondent RESPONDS to a survey or a legal claim.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESPONDENT IS A CONTAINER (for information/answers).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'respondent' LEAST likely to be used?