plea
gb/plˈi/ us/plˈi/
B2
English
~ 6900
nyomatékos kérés, felhívás, könyörgés, vádra tett nyilatkozat, hivatkozás, mentség, ürügy
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
a plea for [something]
The charity issued a public plea for donations after the storm.
A jótékonysági szervezet a vihar után nyilvános adománygyűjtési felhívást tett közzé.
Her tearful plea for mercy moved the judge.
A kegyelemért való könnyes könyörgése meghatotta a bírót.
Despite his mother's plea, he refused to leave the country.
The mayor made a heartfelt plea for calm after the protests.
Neighbors ignored her plea for help, thinking it was a joke.
Learner examples
The man made a plea for help.
A férfi segítségért könyörgött.
She wrote a plea for peace on social media.
Békére szólító felhívást írt a közösségi médiában.
They did not listen to his plea for more time.
The teacher's plea for quiet did not work.
The family sent out a plea for blood donors.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "plea" (noun) with "please" (polite word) or "plead" (verb). Another common mistake is using the wrong preposition, saying *"a plea to help" instead of the natural phrase "a plea for help." Also, learners may say *"do a plea" instead of "make a plea."
Meaning
urgent and emotional request
Collocations
a plea for help
|a desperate plea
|a heartfelt plea
|a plea for mercy
|make a plea
|ignore a plea
Synonyms
appeal (Very close in meaning; slightly more common and can sound a bit more formal or official than "plea".)
Antonyms
rejection (Opposite in that a plea is a request for help or mercy, while a rejection is the act of refusing that request.)
Themes
communication
|emotions
|social
Definition
A strong and emotional request for something, usually for help or kindness.
An urgent, serious, and often emotional request for something, especially for help, understanding, or mercy.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
2
Usage pattern:
enter a plea of [guilty/not guilty]
The defendant entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.
A vádlott valamennyi vádpontban ártatlannak vallotta magát.
Her lawyer advised her to change her plea to guilty.
Az ügyvédje azt tanácsolta neki, hogy változtassa meg a nyilatkozatát, és vallja magát bűnösnek.
At the arraignment, he stood and entered his plea before the judge.
The court refused to accept his late plea of not guilty.
After the guilty plea, the case moved straight to sentencing.
Learner examples
The man entered a plea of guilty.
A férfi bűnösnek vallotta magát.
Her lawyer told her not to change her plea.
Az ügyvédje azt mondta neki, hogy ne változtassa meg a vádra tett nyilatkozatát.
The judge asked the woman for her plea.
He stood up and gave his plea in court.
After his plea, the judge set a date for trial.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this legal sense with the general meaning of "plea" as a request. In court, a plea is not a request but the formal answer about guilt. Another mistake is using a verb like *"say a plea"; in legal English, the common phrase is "enter a plea."
Meaning
defendant's statement of guilt
Collocations
enter a plea
|a guilty plea
|a plea of not guilty
|change your plea
|accept a plea
|plea hearing
Synonyms
statement (A general word for something said; in a courtroom, a plea is a specific, formal kind of statement about guilt.)
Antonyms
silence (In legal contexts, a person may either enter a plea (speak formally) or remain silent; silence is the absence of the formal statement that a plea provides.)
Themes
law
|crime
|communication
Definition
The formal words a person says in court to say if they are guilty or not guilty of a crime.
A formal statement made by someone in court saying whether they are guilty or not guilty of the crime they are accused of.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
a plea of [something]
He left work early on the plea of illness.
Betegségre hivatkozva korábban elment a munkahelyéről.
The court rejected his plea of self-defense.
A bíróság elutasította az önvédelemre való hivatkozását.
Her plea of ignorance did not convince the investigators.
They released him on the plea that he was too ill to stand trial.
The company made a plea of hardship to avoid the fine.
Learner examples
He stayed home on the plea of a bad cold.
Erős megfázásra hivatkozva otthon maradt.
The judge did not accept her plea of fear.
A bíró nem fogadta el a félelemre való hivatkozását.
They used a plea of stress as an excuse.
His plea of being too busy sounded weak.
The lawyer made a plea of self-defense for his client.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this sense is only used in law, but it can also be used more generally as a formal word for "excuse." They also sometimes say *"plea about" when the natural pattern is "plea of" ("a plea of illness," not *"a plea about illness").
Meaning
reason or excuse offered
Collocations
a plea of self-defense
|a plea of insanity
|a plea of illness
|a mitigating plea
|reject a plea
|on the plea that [clause]
Synonyms
excuse (Very close in meaning, but "plea" sounds more formal and is common in legal or official situations.)
Antonyms
admission (An admission accepts fault, while a plea in this sense often tries to reduce or avoid fault by giving a special reason.)
Themes
law
|social
|communication
Definition
A reason or excuse that someone gives to defend what they did or to try to avoid trouble or punishment.
A stated reason, excuse, or legal argument used to defend an action, ask for special treatment, or avoid blame or punishment.
Grammar
Dictionary form
plea
IPA
GB/plˈi/
US/plˈi/
Syllables & stress
plea (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (plea)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: plea
- Plural: pleas
Word family
Forms
pleas
noun
Core family
plead
verb B1
pleading
noun
Related words
pleader
noun
Advanced or less common
pleadingly
adverb
Expressions
a plea for help
1/ə plˈi fɚ hˈɛlp/
fixed phrase
urgent request for assistance
A strong and emotional request asking someone to give help.
Examples
- Her message was a clear plea for help.
- The video went viral as a plea for help from the flooded village.
- He ignored her plea for help and walked away.
enter a plea
1/ˈɛntɚ ə plˈi/
fixed phrase
technical
formally state guilt in court
To say officially in court if you are guilty or not guilty of a crime.
Examples
- The suspect will enter a plea at tomorrow's hearing.
- Her lawyer entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf.
- He refused to enter a plea, so the court recorded one for him.
on the plea of
1/ˈɔn ðə plˈi əv/
fixed phrase
formal
using a reason as an excuse
Using a particular reason or excuse to explain or defend what you did.
Examples
- She left early on the plea of a headache.
- The request was denied, even though it was made on the plea of financial hardship.
- He was released from duty on the plea of ill health.
plea bargain
1/plˈi bˈɑɹɡɪn/
fixed phrase
technical
deal to plead guilty for leniency
An agreement in a criminal court where the accused person agrees to say they are guilty so they can get a lighter punishment or a less serious charge.
Examples
- He accepted a plea bargain and avoided a long prison sentence.
- The prosecutor offered her a plea bargain in exchange for her testimony.
- Without a plea bargain, the trial could have lasted for months.