👉 In legal terms, a "deponent" refers to an individual who is not a party to the lawsuit or case but has been appointed by another person as an agent representing them in court proceedings. This can be especially relevant in cases where one of the parties is a public official or someone with significant personal or financial interests. The term "deponents" is also used in other legal contexts, such as criminal law and civil litigation, to refer to individuals who are considered witnesses or present themselves as witnesses