a request made in an urgent and emotional manner, 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

plead ignorance, plead the fifth, plead for mercy

plea agreement, plea bargaining, guilty plea

Formal and Informal Expressions of plea

In different contexts, you can replace 'plea' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'entreaty, petition' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'begging, asking' is a commonplace synonym.

plea: Explore its Definition & Usage

plea Definition

1a request made in an urgent and emotional manner
2a 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

Antonyms for plea

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.