plea bargaining

American  

noun

1. an agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant whereby the defendant is allowed to plead guilty to a lesser charge rather than risk conviction for a graver crime in order to avoid a protracted trial or to win the defendant's cooperation as a witness.

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plea bargaining British  

noun

1. law an agreement between the prosecution and defence, sometimes including the judge, in which the accused agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge in return for more serious charges being dropped

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Etymology

Origin of plea bargaining

An Americanism dating back to 1960–65

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

plea bargaining

"The main strategy from a defence perspective is to have plea bargaining as fast as possible."

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2025

Under Italian law, plea bargaining does not involve a formal admission of guilt.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2025

Collins declined to comment on Dempsey’s case, but said the pardon process — after years of litigation, plea bargaining and trials — has been “surreal” for the defendants and their attorneys alike.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 21, 2025

But, he wrote, “a prosecutor’s alleged misconduct during plea bargaining and sentencing merit the protection of absolute immunity.”

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 21, 2023

Otherwise, plea bargaining would never work. tight ship.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

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