Affirmative Defense Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Affirmative Defense.

Affirmative Defense (noun): An assertion or argument made by a defendant in a lawsuit that, if true, will counteract or nullify the claims made by the plaintiff. These defenses must be proven by the defendant. They include factors like self-defense, consent, or statute of limitations. Note that an affirmative defense is not related to ancillary jurisdiction, which refers to a court's ability to rule on issues not strictly within its authority in order to resolve a case fully.