Final answer:
In a civil case, the defendant refers to the party being sued. They are the individual or entity that has been accused of doing harm to the plaintiff.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a civil case, the defendant refers to the party being sued. They are the individual or entity that has been accused of doing harm to the plaintiff. This is different from a criminal case, where the defendant is the party accused of violating the law. In a civil case, the burden of proof is on the plaintiff to prove their case 'beyond a preponderance of the evidence,' while in a criminal case, the burden is on the state to prove the defendant's guilt 'beyond a reasonable doubt.'