prevailer

Prevailer is a noun meaning a person or entity that prevails—achieves victory, success, or a favorable outcome in a contest, dispute, or competition. In general usage, a prevailer is someone who defeats opponents or overcomes obstacles to reach a desired result. The term is relatively uncommon in everyday language and is more often found in formal, historical, or legal contexts.

In legal contexts, the prevailer is the party that obtains a favorable judgment or settlement. The prevailing party is frequently entitled to recover costs and, in some jurisdictions, attorney’s fees from the losing party, though the availability of costs and fees varies by rule and case. The concept underscored by prevailer is that the event or dispute has a winner, which can influence subsequent court orders, such as awards of costs or enforcement actions.

Outside of law, the word can describe someone who overcomes a challenge in business, politics, or other competitive realms, but it is not standard terminology in those fields. In modern usage, terms like prevailing party, winner, or successful litigant are more common, with prevailer appearing mainly in formal, archaic, or stylistic contexts.

Etymology follows a straightforward pattern: the noun is formed from the verb prevail with the agentive suffix -er, denoting one who prevails. The term thus centers on the idea of attaining a victorious outcome.