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 Word Forms

• plea-bargainer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of plea bargain¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Miss Culley's lawyer said the plea bargain sum under negotiation was substantial but, if her family was ready to pay, it could result in her freedom.

From BBC

He was arrested on March 30 and initially pleaded not guilty, but withdrew that plea Tuesday as part of a plea bargain, prosecutors said.

From Los Angeles Times

Escobar-Valencia subsequently entered a plea bargain agreeing to the “virtual certainty of his deportation” in exchange for the swift resolution of his case, according to court documents.

From Los Angeles Times

“If you did this routinely, you could never get a plea bargain,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Details on the terms of the plea bargain were not disclosed.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• allege 
• argue 
• assert 
• cite 
• declare 
• maintain 
• respond