What term refers to an individual or group being sued or charged with a crime?

• A. Indict
• B. Jurisdiction
• C. Prosecutor
• D. Defendant

Answer: (D)

The key idea is identifying who faces the charges or the lawsuit. The term that fits both civil and criminal contexts is the defendant—the person or group being sued in civil court or charged with a crime in criminal court. The defendant responds to the allegations and can present a defense. Indict is the act of formally charging someone with a crime, jurisdiction is about a court’s authority to hear a case, and a prosecutor is the attorney who brings the case against the defendant. So the defendant is the best answer.