- present participle of plead.
pleading
Americannoun
-
the act of a person who pleads.
-
Law.
-
the advocating of a cause in a court of law.
-
the art or science of setting forth or drawing pleas in legal causes.
-
a formal statement, usually written, setting forth the cause of action or defense of a case.
-
pleadings, the successive statements delivered alternately by plaintiff and defendant until the issue is joined.
-
noun
-
the act of presenting a case in court, as by a lawyer on behalf of his client
-
the art or science of preparing the formal written statements of the parties to a legal action See also pleadings
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of pleading
1250–1300; Middle English pledynge (gerund). See plead, -ing 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Pleading for help, Neeraj's son contacted a friend who alerted the police, who then rescued the retired doctor from what was described as "Mamta's custody".
From BBC • Aug. 13, 2025
The AP’s analysis of Capitol riot sentencing data reinforces a firmly established tenet of the U.S. criminal justice system: Pleading guilty and cooperating with authorities carries a substantial benefit when it comes time for sentencing.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 5, 2024
Pleading to a felony would also likely mean that he would lose his license to practice law, which is no small concern.
From Slate • Aug. 14, 2023
Pleading his case to Alithea, the Djinn turns Scheherazade, telling stories of his past masters and the centuries of imprisonment he has endured as a result of their lust and greed.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2022
Pleading illness, Lord Gulian Swann had remained in his castle, taking no part in the war, but his eldest son had ridden with Renly and now Stannis, while Balon, the younger, served at King's landing.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
