plea-bargain

[ plee-bahr-gin ]

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in plea bargaining.

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

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.

Other Words From

• plea-bargain·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of plea-bargain¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Schettino also tried to enter a plea bargain agreement, which ultimately was rejected by the Grosseto court.

From The Daily Beast

And so, in the end, he accepts a plea bargain: involuntary manslaughter, three years in prison.

From The Daily Beast

“Ordinarily a plea bargain has a five year cap,” said Rick Simmons, a blue-chip defense attorney with no involvement in the case.

From The Daily Beast

Yesterday, the New York Times urged the Obama administration to offer Edward Snowden “a plea bargain or some form of clemency.”

From The Daily Beast

Richmond was forced to step down as a part of his plea bargain.

From The Daily Beast

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