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Meaning & use

enter plea

phrase·Advancedlegallaw

Last updated

UK/ˌentə ˈpliː/
US/ˌentər ˈpliː/

Meanings

  1. phraseidiomlegallaw

    To state formally in a court whether you admit or deny a criminal charge.

    Grammar: Used with an object: enter a plea of guilty, or enter a not guilty plea.

    Patterns

    • enter a plea of guilty
    • enter a plea of not guilty
    • enter a not guilty plea
    • enter a plea

    The defendant will enter a plea of not guilty at the hearing tomorrow.

    She entered a guilty plea to the charge of theft.

    Before the trial, he entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

  2. phraseidiomformal

    To make a formal statement or request in a non-legal context, often to ask for help or mercy.

    Grammar: Often followed by 'for' and a noun: enter a plea for mercy.

    Patterns

    • enter a plea for something
    • enter a plea for mercy
    • enter a plea for help

    The charity entered a plea for donations after the earthquake.

    The mayor entered a plea for calm during the protests.

    He entered a plea for forgiveness at the end of his speech.

Common combinations

enter a plea of guilty
The defendant decided to enter a plea of guilty to the lesser charge.
enter a plea of not guilty
She entered a plea of not guilty and the trial was set for June.
enter a not guilty plea
He entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment.
enter a plea for mercy
The prisoner entered a plea for mercy before the judge.
enter a plea for help
The community entered a plea for help after the flood.

Synonyms and how they differ

plead
Use 'plead' as a verb when you want to focus on the act of answering a charge, not the formal recording of it; 'enter a plea' is the official court phrase.
make a plea
This is a more general phrase that can mean asking for something, not just a legal answer; 'enter a plea' is the technical legal term.

Word family

plea noun
A formal statement or request, especially in court.
plead verb
To state in court that you are guilty or not guilty.
pleading noun
The act of making a plea, or a formal legal document.

Commonly confused: enter plea or plea bargain?

enter plea vs plea bargain

A plea bargain is an agreement to plead guilty to a lesser charge; 'enter a plea' is just the formal act of stating your plea, not necessarily an agreement.

Practice

The accused decided to _____ a plea of not guilty.

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