noun
claimant
In plain English
The person making a claim against you under your liability coverage.
If a customer sues your business, they're the claimant; you're the insured. Your GL responds on your behalf, defending you and (if liable) paying the claimant up to the limit.
What it covers
From the insured's perspective, the claimant is the party seeking damages. The insurer's job is to defend the insured against the claimant's claim.
What it does not cover
The claimant is NOT a party to the insured's policy and has no rights under it directly (except statutory direct-action rights in some states).
Where it trips people up
Some carriers will settle a borderline claim over the insured's objection. Most policies give the carrier sole discretion to settle within the limits — the insured doesn't have a veto.
The technical version
A person or entity asserting a claim for damages against an insured under the insured's liability coverage.