上述這些單詞均有“被告”的含義。其中，defendant為通用語(yǔ)，可用于一般民事或刑事案件的初審中，與其相對(duì)的原告為plaintiff [1] 。respondent用于上訴審（此時(shí)也稱(chēng)為appellee)及申請(qǐng)獲得特別命令或離婚、遺囑驗(yàn)證等衡平法案件中，與其相對(duì)的原告（或上訴人）有appellant, petitioner, applicant 等[2]。accused專(zhuān)指刑事被告 [3] ; 與之相對(duì)的原告有plaintiff (刑事自訴人）或prosecution (公訴方）。defender則是蘇格蘭專(zhuān)門(mén)用語(yǔ), 與其相對(duì)的原告為pursuer [4]。libel (l) ee則專(zhuān)指海事或離婚案件的原告，與其相對(duì)的原告為libel (l) ant [5]。

[1]“The party against whom a criminal or civil action is brought. ”Cf. Linda Picard Wood, J. D.，Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Law, at p. 128, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated (1996).
[2]“The party against whom an appeal is taken. At common law, the defendant in an equity proceeding. " Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 1313, West Group (1999).
[3]“A person or persons arrested, indicted, or otherwise formally charged with a crime； the defendant(s) or prospective defendant(s) in a criminal case. " Cf. James E. Clapp, Random House Webster's Dictionary of the Law, at p. 10, Random House (2000).
[4]“Scots law：a party defendant in a legal proceeding . . . opposed to pursuer." Cf. Philip Babcock Gove, Ph. D. and the Merriam - Webster Editorial Staff, Webster's Third New International Dictionary, at p. 591，G &C Merriam Co. (1976).
[5]“ The party against whom a libel has been filed in admiralty or ecclesiastical court. ”Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 928，West Group (1999).