plea

[ plee ]

noun

1. an appeal or entreaty:

   a plea for mercy.

   Synonyms: suit, solicitation, supplication, petition, request

2. something that is alleged, urged, or pleaded in defense or justification.
3. an excuse; pretext:

   He begged off on the plea that his car wasn't working.

   Synonyms: justification

4. Law.
   1. an allegation made by, or on behalf of, a party to a legal suit, in support of their claim or defense.
   2. a defendant's answer to a legal declaration or charge.
   3. (in courts of equity) a plea that admits the truth of the declaration, but alleges special or new matter in avoidance.
   4. Obsolete. a suit or action.

plea

/ pliː /

noun

1. an earnest entreaty or request

   a plea for help

2. 1. law something alleged or pleaded by or on behalf of a party to legal proceedings in support of his claim or defence
   2. criminal law the answer made by an accused to the charge

      a plea of guilty

   3. (in Scotland and formerly in England) a suit or action at law
3. an excuse, justification, or pretext

   he gave the plea of a previous engagement

Word History and Origins

Origin of plea¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English ple, earlier plaid from Old French, from early Medieval Latin placitum “law-court, suit, decision, decree,” Latin: “opinion” (literally, “that which is pleasing or agreeable”), placēre “to please”

Word History and Origins

Origin of plea¹

C13: from Anglo-Norman plai, from Old French plaid lawsuit, from Medieval Latin placitum court order (literally: what is pleasing), from Latin placēre to please

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cop a plea, Slang. cop ²( def 5b ).

More idioms and phrases containing plea

see cop a plea .

Example Sentences

Martinez, whose nonprofit We Are Not Invisible raises funds for homeless needs, put out a late-night plea on Facebook as the temperature dropped below 50.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Headley, who was accompanied by his solicitor, was not asked to enter pleas on the two charges against him.

From BBC

He entered a “no contest” plea deal to the remaining charges.

From Los Angeles Times

County sheriff’s deputy will avoid jail time in the 2021 shooting death of a suicidal man under the terms of a plea deal reached with prosecutors Tuesday morning.

From Los Angeles Times

Foster made a plea to fill the place Saturday.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• appeal
• application
• entreaty
• overture
• petition
• prayer
• solicitation
• suit

More About Plea

What does plea mean?

A plea is an intense request or appeal.

It’s especially used to imply that the request is passionate and that the person doing the pleading is desperate.

It’s especially used in serious situations. A person might make a plea to their friend to get help with an addiction. A kid might make a plea to their parents begging not to be grounded.

In law, a plea is generally a defendant’s response to an accusation, as in a plea of guilty or not guilty. A plea-bargain is an agreement between a defendant and a prosecutor in which the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge. The slang phrase cop a plea refers to this and can be used in nonlegal contexts.

To make a plea is to plead.

Example: When I was a kid, I used to beg my mom not to make me go to the dentist, but she always ignored my pleas.

Where does plea come from?

The first records of plea come from around 1200. It ultimately comes from the Latin verb placēre, meaning “to please.”

A plea is a serious or passionate appeal and is usually made by someone who is desperate or extremely emotional. A plea is always made to another person or entity. In the context of religion, a prayer is often a kind of plea.

In law, plea is used to mean a variety of different things, including the defendant’s answer to the prosecution (a plea of not guilty) or an excuse or defense for one’s actions (a plea of self-defense).

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to plea?

• pleas (plural noun)
• plead (verb)

What are some synonyms for plea?

• appeal
• entreaty
• petition
• request
• prayer
• justification

What are some words that share a root or word element with plea? 

• plea-bargain
• cop a plea
• please

What are some words that often get used in discussing plea?

• guilty
• mercy
• help
• request
• beg
• bargain

How is plea used in real life?

Plea is commonly used when talking about defendants in a legal case. Outside of legal contexts, a passionate request can be called a plea, especially when the person making the request appears to be desperate.

Everytime I get a haircut it's like 3 months grown out and the hairdresser always bids me goodbye with a slightly desperate plea of "see you in 4 weeks!"

— James (@pageofabook) December 14, 2019

"'Please read a book!" I cry. "I swear to you that they don't contain gluten!"

The hipsters ignore my plea.

— Shannon (@theevilwriter) September 21, 2017

The brother of a British man due to be executed in China for drug smuggling makes a desperate plea for mercy.

— David Carradine (@DavidCarradineX) December 25, 2009

 

 

Try using plea!

True or False?

A plea is the answer a person gives when someone else is desperately asking them for something.