In the common law, an answer is the first pleading by a defendant, usually filed and served upon the plaintiff within a certain strict time limit after a civil complaint or criminal information or indictment has been served upon the defendant.
ɪnðə kˈɑːmən lˈɔː, ɐn ˈænsɚɹ ɪz ðə fˈɜːst plˈiːdɪŋ baɪ ɐ dᵻfˈɛndənt, jˈuːʒuːəli fˈaɪld ænd sˈɜːvd əpˌɑːn ðə plˈeɪntɪf wɪðˌɪn ɐ sˈɜːʔn̩ stɹˈɪkt tˈaɪm lˈɪmɪt ˈæftɚɹ ɐ sˈɪvəl kəmplˈeɪnt ɔːɹ kɹˈɪmɪnəl ˌɪnfɚmˈeɪʃən ɔːɹ ɪndˈaɪtmənt hˈæzbiːn sˈɜːvd əpˌɑːn ðə dᵻfˈɛndənt.