pleading

American  

[plee-ding] / ˈpli dɪŋ /

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.

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pleading British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of pleading

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

Example Sentences

Sun was sentenced in February to four years in federal prison after pleading guilty in October 2025 to one count of acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

However, on Monday morning at Newry Crown Court the accused was re-arraigned, pleading guilty to both charges.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

That would be a boon for theaters, which are struggling with a roughly one-third drop in attendance since before the pandemic and have been pleading with Hollywood for more major releases to draw audiences.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

O'Donnell has since been jailed for two years after pleading guilty to possession of criminal property.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

I understood now why Edward had been pleading.

From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien