1. two or more defendants who are jointly charged or sued in the same legal proceeding
Usage: legal term; plural form

Examples

• The three codefendants were charged with conspiracy to commit fraud.
• Both codefendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
• The judge decided to try the codefendants separately.
• The codefendants’ lawyers requested a change of venue.
• Evidence against one codefendant may not be used against the other.
• The codefendants reached different plea agreements with prosecutors.