The meaning of respondent

Respondent

Noun
1.
LAW
a party against whom a petition is filed, especially one in an appeal or a divorce case.
2.
a person who replies to something, especially one supplying information for a questionnaire or responding to an advertisement.
"out of the many thousands of respondents to our questionnaire, under a fifth were full-time housewives"
adjective

Adjective: respondent
1.
LAW
in the position of a party defending against a petition.
"the respondent defendant"
2.
replying to something.
"the respondent firms in the survey"