plea-bargain

[ plee-bahr-gin ]

verb (used without object)

1. to engage in plea bargaining.

verb (used with object)

1. to deal with or achieve by plea bargaining:

   to plea-bargain a reduced sentence.

noun

1. the agreement arrived at as a result of plea bargaining.

plea bargain

1. An agreement that permits a defendant to plead guilty to a lesser charge instead of pleading not guilty to a more serious one. Plea bargaining is usually undertaken by a prosecutor to obtain important information from a defendant or to avoid a long and costly trial.

Other Words From

• plea-bargain·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of plea-bargain¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Biden’s refusal on the plea-bargain guarantees leaves it to military prosecutors and defense lawyers to try to hash out an agreement on a plea bargain.

From Seattle Times

The Supreme Court ruling last week against Deri's appointment, given his 2022 plea-bargain conviction for tax fraud, stoked a stormy debate in Israel - accompanied by nationwide protests - over government-proposed judicial curbs.

From Reuters

How many were allowed to plea-bargain for reduced penalties?

From Washington Post

Martinez Guzman, who authorities say entered the U.S. illegally at age 16, pleaded guilty to all the crimes last year after prosecutors announced they’d agreed to a plea-bargain agreement in October.

From Seattle Times

Prosecutors certainly have the authority to decide what cases to plea-bargain, to bring to trial and to recommend sentences, but not to decide what criminal statutes should not be enforced.

From Washington Post

Related Words

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