What is the legal term for a person defending or responding to a legal claim?

The legal term for a person defending or responding to a legal claim is "Defendant." In the context of legal proceedings, a defendant is an individual or entity that is accused or sued in a court of law, reacting to the allegations made against them. This role is crucial because it involves not just contesting the claims but also potentially providing evidence or arguments to refute them.

In civil cases, the defendant responds to claims made by a claimant (the person who initiates the lawsuit), while in criminal cases, the defendant is the individual charged with a crime brought by the prosecution. The defendant's role is to ensure that their rights are protected and to challenge the legal basis of the claims made against them.

Other roles, such as a claimant, prosecutor, and witness, have distinct functions within the legal system but do not pertain to the process of defending against a claim. The claimant initiates the legal proceedings, the prosecutor brings forward a case in criminal matters, and the witness provides testimony but does not defend themselves against accusations.