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plea

noun
\ ˈplē How to pronounce plea (audio) \

Definition of plea

1 : a legal suit or action
2 : an allegation made by a party in support of a cause: such as
a : an allegation of fact — compare demurrer entry 1
b(1) : a defendant's answer to a plaintiff's declaration in common-law practice
(2) : an accused person's answer to a charge or indictment in criminal practice
c : a plea of guilty to an indictment
3 : something offered by way of excuse or justification left early with the plea of a headache
4 : an earnest entreaty : appeal their plea for understanding must be answered
Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about plea

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Choose the Right Synonym for plea

apology, apologia, excuse, plea, pretext, alibi mean matter offered in explanation or defense. apology usually applies to an expression of regret for a mistake or wrong with implied admission of guilt or fault and with or without reference to mitigating or extenuating circumstances. said by way of apology that he would have met them if he could apologia implies not admission of guilt or regret but a desire to make clear the grounds for some course, belief, or position. his speech was an apologia for his foreign policy excuse implies an intent to avoid or remove blame or censure. used illness as an excuse for missing the meeting plea stresses argument or appeal for understanding or sympathy or mercy. her usual plea that she was nearsighted pretext suggests subterfuge and the offering of false reasons or motives in excuse or explanation. used any pretext to get out of work alibi implies a desire to shift blame or evade punishment and imputes mere plausibility to the explanation. his alibi failed to stand scrutiny

Examples of plea in a Sentence

We are making a plea to all companies to stop polluting the environment. The defendant entered a plea of not guilty.

Recent Examples on the Web

 Governor, first took office in 2017 after then-Governor Robert Bentley resigned as part of plea deal related to ethics and campaign finance violations. — Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, "Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey blackface controversy: Governor says she won’t resign; What we know today," 30 Aug. 2019 Under a plea deal, Flynn and his initial Covington & Burling defense team, led by Robert K. Kelner, agreed with prosecutors that a sentence of probation was appropriate, citing his substantial cooperation. — Washington Post, "Michael Flynn case: Security clearance dispute with prosecutors could delay sentencing," 30 Aug. 2019 Some of them felt they were robbed of justice, not just in the recent case against Epstein, but also years ago, when Florida prosecutors offered Epstein a plea deal without their input. — Dakin Andone, CNN, "The criminal case against Jeffrey Epstein has been officially dismissed," 29 Aug. 2019 Through all of this, Maurer stayed in the background, nervous that his probation officer and the judge who took his plea deal back in Missouri wouldn’t be happy to hear about his leap back into the cannabis world. — oregonlive, "How Travis Maurer went from Missouri pot bust to masterminding Oregon’s marijuana initiative," 29 Aug. 2019 In the end, prosecutors and Epstein’s lawyers negotiated a then-secret plea deal which led Epstein to serve just 13 months in jail under work-release privileges, allowing him to work in his office six days a week. — Bryan Llenas | Fox News, Fox News, "Video from raid on Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach mansion showed nude images of young women," 29 Aug. 2019 Former warden Eric Ivey’s Aug. 19 plea deal marked the first conviction in the probe. — Adam Ferrise, cleveland.com, "Cuyahoga County Jail officers, Heartless Felons gang members charged in drug ring inside troubled jail," 28 Aug. 2019 Three of Kingston’s family members have also taken plea deals. — Los Angeles Times, "Former L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca implicated in fraud scheme, court documents allege," 28 Aug. 2019 Epstein spent 13 months in the Palm Beach County stockade during 2008-2009 as part of a plea deal with prosecutors that has been widely criticized as being too lenient. — Skyler Swisher, sun-sentinel.com, "U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel calls for South Florida congressional hearing on Jeffrey Epstein plea deal and work release," 27 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'plea.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of plea

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for plea

Middle English ple, plede, from Anglo-French plai, pleit from Medieval Latin placitum, from Latin, decision, decree, from neuter of placitus, past participle of placēre to please, be decided — more at please

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More Definitions for plea

plea

noun
How to pronounce plea (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of plea

: a serious and emotional request for something
: a statement in which a person who has been accused of a crime says in court that he or she is guilty or not guilty of the crime
: a statement in which a person says that he or she is guilty of a particular crime : a plea of guilty

See the full definition for plea in the English Language Learners Dictionary

plea

noun
\ ˈplē How to pronounce plea (audio) \

Kids Definition of plea

1 : an earnest appeal The prisoner made a plea for mercy.
2 : something offered as a defense or excuse

plea

noun
\ ˈplē How to pronounce plea (audio) \

Legal Definition of plea

1a : an allegation of fact in civil litigation made in response to a claim — compare demurrer
b : a defendant's answer to a plaintiff's claim in civil litigation

Note: Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and in states where they have been adopted, civil pleas are abolished, and answers and motions are used instead. Such pleas were used at common law.

— dilatory plea \ ˈdi-​lə-​ˌtƍr-​ē-​ \
: a common-law plea which is intended to defeat the pending action or proceeding without involving any decis

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