plea
gb/plˈi/ us/plˈi/
B2
English
~ 6900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
urgent and emotional request
A strong and emotional request for something, usually for help or kindness.
Usage pattern:
a plea for [something]
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."
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.)
Collocations
a plea for help
|a desperate plea
|a heartfelt plea
|a plea for mercy
|make a plea
|ignore a plea
Themes
communication
|emotions
|social
Examples
- The charity issued a public plea for donations after the storm.
- Her tearful plea for mercy moved the judge.
- 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.
- She wrote a plea for peace on social media.
- 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.
Noun
technical
C1
action
2
defendant's statement of guilt
The formal words a person says in court to say if they are guilty or not guilty of a crime.
Usage pattern:
enter a plea of [guilty/not guilty]
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."
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.)
Collocations
enter a plea
|a guilty plea
|a plea of not guilty
|change your plea
|accept a plea
|plea hearing
Themes
law
|crime
|communication
Examples
- The defendant entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.
- Her lawyer advised her to change her plea to guilty.
- 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.
- Her lawyer told her not to change her plea.
- 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.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
3
reason or excuse offered
A reason or excuse that someone gives to defend what they did or to try to avoid trouble or punishment.
Usage pattern:
a plea of [something]
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").
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.)
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]
Themes
law
|social
|communication
Examples
- He left work early on the plea of illness.
- The court rejected his plea of self-defense.
- 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.
- The judge did not accept her plea of fear.
- 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.
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.