A more thorough explanation:

Definition: A criminal defendant is a person who has been accused of committing a crime and is facing charges in a court of law.

Example: John has been arrested for stealing a car. He is now a criminal defendant and will have to appear in court to defend himself against the charges.

Explanation: The example illustrates the definition of a criminal defendant by showing how someone who has been accused of a crime becomes a defendant in a criminal proceeding. John is facing charges and will have to defend himself in court, which is a common situation for criminal defendants.