plea

[pliː]

plea Definition

• 1. a request made in an urgent and emotional manner
• 2. a formal statement made by or on behalf of a defendant or prisoner, stating guilt or innocence in response to a charge, offering an allegation of fact, or claiming a cause for leniency

Using plea: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "plea" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  She made a plea for help.

• Example

  The defendant entered a plea of not guilty.

• Example

  The lawyer made an impassioned plea for clemency.

• Example

  He accepted the plea bargain offered by the prosecutor.

plea Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for plea

• appeal
• entreaty
• petition
• supplication
• request

Antonyms for plea

• accusation
• charge

Idioms Using plea

• plead ignorance

  to claim that one does not know or understand something

  Example

  He pleaded ignorance when asked about the missing files.

• plead the fifth

  to refuse to answer a question on the grounds that the answer might incriminate oneself

  Example

  The witness decided to plead the fifth when asked about his involvement in the crime.

• plead for mercy

  to ask for forgiveness or leniency

  Example

  The defendant's family members pleaded for mercy during the sentencing hearing.

Phrases with plea

• plea agreement

  an arrangement between a defendant and a prosecutor in which the defendant pleads guilty or no contest in exchange for some concession from the prosecutor

  Example

  The plea agreement allowed him to avoid jail time.

• plea bargaining

  the negotiation of an agreement between a defendant and a prosecutor in which the defendant pleads guilty or no contest in exchange for some concession from the prosecutor

  Example

  The defendant's lawyer engaged in plea bargaining with the prosecutor.

• guilty plea

  a formal admission of guilt by a defendant in response to a criminal charge

  Example

  The defendant entered a guilty plea to the charge of theft.

Origins of plea

from Anglo-French 'pleder', meaning 'to plead'

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Summary: plea in Brief

The term 'plea' [pliː] refers to a request made in an urgent and emotional manner or a formal statement made by or on behalf of a defendant or prisoner. It can be used in phrases like 'plea agreement,' 'plea bargaining,' and 'guilty plea.' Idioms like 'plead ignorance' and 'plead the fifth' denote refusal to answer questions or claim of ignorance, while 'plead for mercy' means asking for forgiveness or leniency.