/ri spon"deuhnt/ , n.
1. a person who responds or makes reply.
2. Law. a defendant, esp. in appellate and divorce proceedings.
adj.
3. giving a response; answering; responsive.
4. Law. being a respondent.
5. Psychol. of or pertaining to behavior that occurs consistently in response to a particular stimulus.
6. Obs. corresponding.
[ 1520-30; respondent- (s. of respondens ), prp. of respondere. See RESPOND, -ENT ]