plead

[ pleed ]

verb (used without object)

, plead·ed or pled [pled], plead·ing.

1. to appeal or entreat earnestly:

   to plead for time.

   Synonyms: supplicate, beg

2. to use arguments or persuasions, as with a person, for or against something:

   She pleaded with him not to take the job.

   Synonyms: reason

3. to afford an argument or appeal:

   His youth pleads for him.

4. Law.
   1. to make any allegation or plea in an action at law.
   2. to put forward an answer on the part of a defendant to a legal declaration or charge.
   3. to address a court as an advocate.
   4. Obsolete. to prosecute a suit or action at law.

verb (used with object)

, plead·ed or pled [pled], plead·ing.

1. to allege or urge in defense, justification, or excuse:

   to plead ignorance.

   Synonyms: claim

2. Law.
   1. to maintain (a cause) by argument before a court.
   2. to allege or set forth (something) formally in an action at law.
   3. to allege or cite in legal defense:

      to plead a statute of limitations.

plead

/ pliːd /

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by with to appeal earnestly or humbly (to)
2. tr; may take a clause as object to give as an excuse; offer in justification or extenuation

   to plead ignorance

   he pleaded that he was insane

3. introften foll byfor to provide an argument or appeal (for)

   her beauty pleads for her

4. law to declare oneself to be (guilty or not guilty) in answer to the charge
5. law to advocate (a case) in a court of law
6. intr law
   1. to file pleadings
   2. to address a court as an advocate

Derived Forms

• ˈpleader, noun
• ˈpleadable, adjective

Other Words From

• re·plead verb repleaded repleading
• un·pleaded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of plead¹

First recordd in 1200–50; Middle English plaiden, from< Old French plaid(i)er “to go to law, plead,” from early Medieval Latin placitāre “to litigate,” derivative of Latin placitum “opinion, agreed condition.” See plea

Word History and Origins

Origin of plead¹

C13: from Old French plaidier, from Medieval Latin placitāre to have a lawsuit, from Latin placēre to please; see plea

Example Sentences

The firm Harmony CCS Limited, which is based in Belfast, was prosecuted and pleaded guilty to a single health and safety breach.

From BBC

Davis, who was captured by the FBI, pleaded guilty in February to robbery and gun charges.

From Los Angeles Times

The company pleaded guilty to a number of regulatory offences in 2022.

From BBC

Moore pleaded guilty last year to seven felonies, including conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy to engage in money laundering and money laundering.

From Los Angeles Times

Most of the defendants either pleaded guilty or were convicted of conspiring to attempt subversion.

From BBC

Related Words

• allege
• argue
• assert
• cite
• declare
• maintain
• respond

More About Plead

What does plead mean?

Plead means to beg or passionately try to persuade someone to do something.

It’s similar to the word beg, which often means to request again and again. Plead can mean the same thing, but 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 plead with their friend to get help with an addiction. You might plead with your teacher for more time to complete a project.

Plead is used in a more specific way in a legal context, in which it means to declare one’s status in response to charges, especially to plead guilty or not guilty, as in How does the defendant plead? and My client pleads not guilty. It can also mean to argue something in court. The expression plead one’s case uses this sense of the word.

Less commonly, plead can mean to offer as an excuse for or defense of one’s actions. When used this way, it’s typically followed by the specific excuse, as in, Don’t plead ignorance—you knew what you were doing. 

Plead has two past tense forms: pleaded and pled. The noun form of plead is plea.

Example: When I was a kid, I was afraid of the dentist and used to plead with my mom not to make me go.

Where does plead come from?

The first records of plead come from the 1200s. It ultimately comes from the Latin placēre, meaning “to please.” The noun plea, which is also used in law, shares this origin, as does the word please.

Plead is commonly used in law but is generally used in the context of passionate appeals or arguments outside of courtrooms.

Pleading is often done by people who have run out of options. The word often implies desperation or intense need. Someone who is pleading for mercy has no options other than to ask to be spared harm or punishment.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to plead?

• pleader (noun)
• plea (noun)

What are some synonyms for plead?

• beg
• request
• appeal
• pray
• ask

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

 

• plea
• please
• placid

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

• guilty
• innocent
• mercy
• help
• forgiveness
• ignorance
• stupidity

How is plead used in real life?

Outside of law, plead implies that someone is passionately begging for something.

Your honor, I'd like to plead oopsie daisies

— Disastrophé🖤 (@moonsixnine) November 8, 2020

I heard thunder from afar. I plead for rain. The heat is just too much. :-( 😓

— GemCab (@G_A_Cabreros) May 3, 2017

Why is it so hard to find a bassist? I plead to the gods of rock to help me. =(

— Anuar Chain-Haddad (@McKnzieRbrts) January 6, 2010

 

 

Try using plead!

Pleading usually involves making which of the following things?

A. an order
B. a request
C. a question
D. a demand