plea
urgent and emotional request
A strong and emotional request for something, usually for help or kindness.
a plea for [something]
- 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.
- 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.
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.
enter a plea of [guilty/not guilty]
- 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.
- 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.
reason or excuse offered
A reason or excuse that someone gives to defend what they did or to try to avoid trouble or punishment.
a plea of [something]
- 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.
- 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.
- Base: plea
- Plural: pleas
a plea for help
1urgent request for assistance
A strong and emotional request asking someone to give help.
- 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
1formally state guilt in court
To say officially in court if you are guilty or not guilty of a crime.
- 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
1using a reason as an excuse
Using a particular reason or excuse to explain or defend what you did.
- 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
1deal 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.
- 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.