Definition: A `defendant` in English can mean both a person who is guilty of something and an agent responsible for its prosecution. The term has been used in legal contexts to refer to someone who has acted unlawfully, such as a person who committed a crime which was not their intention or purpose. In the context of political law, the word "defendant" can also be used to refer to someone who is being prosecuted for an illegal act or wrongdoing. This term can refer to any individual who is involved in legal proceedings related to corruption, fraud, criminal activity, etc. However, in modern English usage, a person may have multiple defences, such as innocent until proven guilty (the doctrine of "innocent until proven guilty"), acquittal by reason of insanity (defence of the insane), or invalid excuse (a defence against a prosecution). In these cases, the term is often used to refer to someone who has not acted in good faith and may have committed an illegal act. In summary, a `defendant` refers to an individual whose actions are unlawful or in violation of law. This term can be used in legal contexts to refer to anyone involved in a criminal case who commits an illegal act without any intention to commit it.