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• plea-bargain
  plea-bargain

  verb (used without object)

  to engage in plea bargaining.
• plea bargain
  plea bargain

  An agreement that permits a defendant to plead guilty to a lesser charge instead of pleading not guilty to a more serious one. Plea bargaining is usually undertaken by a prosecutor to obtain important information from a defendant or to avoid a long and costly trial.

plea-bargain

American  

[plee-bahr-gin] / ˈpliˌbɑr gɪn /

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in plea bargaining.

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verb (used with object)

1. to deal with or achieve by plea bargaining.

   to plea-bargain a reduced sentence.

noun

1. the agreement arrived at as a result of plea bargaining.

plea bargain Cultural  

1. An agreement that permits a defendant to plead guilty to a lesser charge instead of pleading not guilty to a more serious one. Plea bargaining is usually undertaken by a prosecutor to obtain important information from a defendant or to avoid a long and costly trial.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• plea-bargainer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of plea-bargain

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

How many were allowed to plea-bargain for reduced penalties?

From Washington Post • Nov. 15, 2022

Martinez Guzman, who authorities say entered the U.S. illegally at age 16, pleaded guilty to all the crimes last year after prosecutors announced they’d agreed to a plea-bargain agreement in October.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 2, 2022

Cartabia says she can speed up trials thanks to measures to encourage defendants to seek plea-bargain deals and the hiring of thousands of support staff in courtrooms.

From Reuters • Jul. 29, 2021

Mr Kabendera's release comes after he entered into a plea-bargain agreement with the prosecution.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2020

Prosecutors have offered the 45-year-old Earl a plea-bargain deal of three to 12 years in prison while he awaits a March trial.

From Washington Times • Jan. 28, 2018

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