plea

American  

[plee] / pli /

noun

1. an appeal or entreaty.

   a plea for mercy.

   Synonyms:

   suit, solicitation, supplication, petition, request

2. something that is alleged, urged, or pleaded in defense or justification.

3. an excuse; pretext.

   He begged off on the plea that his car wasn't working.

   Synonyms:

   justification

4. Law.

   1. an allegation made by, or on behalf of, a party to a legal suit, in support of their claim or defense.

   2. a defendant's answer to a legal declaration or charge.

   3. (in courts of equity) a plea that admits the truth of the declaration, but alleges special or new matter in avoidance.

   4. Obsolete. a suit or action.

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idioms

1. cop a plea, cop.

plea British  

/ pliː /

noun

1. an earnest entreaty or request

   a plea for help

2. 1. law something alleged or pleaded by or on behalf of a party to legal proceedings in support of his claim or defence

   2. criminal law the answer made by an accused to the charge

      a plea of guilty

   3. (in Scotland and formerly in England) a suit or action at law

3. an excuse, justification, or pretext

   he gave the plea of a previous engagement

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plea More Idioms  

1. see cop a plea.

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Usage

What does plea mean? A plea is an intense request or appeal.It’s especially used to imply that the request is passionate and that the person doing the pleading is desperate.It’s especially used in serious situations. A person might make a plea to their friend to get help with an addiction. A kid might make a plea to their parents begging not to be grounded.In law, a plea is generally a defendant’s response to an accusation, as in a plea of guilty or not guilty. A plea-bargain is an agreement between a defendant and a prosecutor in which the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge. The slang phrase cop a plea refers to this and can be used in nonlegal contexts.To make a plea is to plead.Example: When I was a kid, I used to beg my mom not to make me go to the dentist, but she always ignored my pleas.

Etymology

Origin of plea

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English ple, earlier plaid from Old French, from early Medieval Latin placitum “law-court, suit, decision, decree,” Latin: “opinion” (literally, “that which is pleasing or agreeable”), placēre “to please”

Example Sentences

Epstein's first conviction was part of a plea bargain Epstein reached in Florida.

From BBC

Where are the movie stars and pop icons with their beautifully produced plangent video pleas for justice?

From The Wall Street Journal

The prosecutor's office said it "signed a plea agreement with former Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, under which he was sentenced to five years in prison."

From Barron's

Despite making an application to vacate his plea last year, permission was refused by Judge Paul Thomas KC.

From BBC

He then made an impassioned plea for people to see films like his on the big screen.

From BBC

Related Words

• appeal
• application
• entreaty
• overture
• petition
• prayer
• solicitation
• suit