pleading

[plee-ding]

noun

1. the act of a person who pleads.

2. Law.

   1. the advocating of a cause in a court of law.

   2. the art or science of setting forth or drawing pleas in legal causes.

   3. a formal statement, usually written, setting forth the cause of action or defense of a case.

   4. pleadings, the successive statements delivered alternately by plaintiff and defendant until the issue is joined.

pleading

/ ˈpliːdɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of presenting a case in court, as by a lawyer on behalf of his client

2. the art or science of preparing the formal written statements of the parties to a legal action See also pleadings

Other Word Forms

• pleadingly adverb
• pleadingness noun
• nonpleading adjective
• nonpleadingly adverb
• unpleading adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pleading¹

1250–1300; Middle English pledynge (gerund). See plead, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Cody Balmer, 38 years old, from Harrisburg, Penn., was sentenced by Judge Deborah Curcillo after pleading guilty to state charges of attempted murder, aggravated arson, burglary and other charges under a plea deal.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“So long as there’s a healthy respect both ways, the arguing and pleading your case, I think it’s all part of the game.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The regional government's leader Salvador Illa joined the call on social media, pleading with citizens "for maximum precaution".

Read more on Barron's

He said Mr Murley "adopted a policy of pleading guilty to nothing" and believed that Mr Murley "needed to accept those breaches" of guidelines "before trust could be rebuilt".

Read more on BBC

"She called me mum ... she was asking for a DNA test, 'why won't you do a DNA test?' and pleading with me," she said.

Read more on Barron's