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Meaning & use

plea

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/pliː/
US/pliː/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    An urgent emotional request for something.

    Grammar: Often followed by 'for' or 'to': a plea for help, a plea to the government.

    Patterns

    • a plea for something
    • a plea to someone
    • make a plea

    The mother made a desperate plea for information about her son.

    The charity issued a plea for donations.

    He ignored her pleas to stay.

  2. nouncountablelegal

    A formal statement by a defendant in court saying whether they are guilty or not guilty.

    Grammar: Legal use: enter a plea, a plea of guilty.

    Patterns

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

    The defendant entered a plea of not guilty.

    Her plea will be heard next week.

    He changed his plea to guilty.

Word forms

pluralpleas

Common combinations

a plea for help
The refugees made a plea for help.
a desperate plea
She made a desperate plea to save the school.
enter a plea
The judge asked him to enter a plea.
a plea bargain
The lawyer negotiated a plea bargain.

Synonyms and how they differ

appeal
More formal and often public; can also mean a legal request to a higher court.
request
Neutral and less emotional; does not suggest urgency.
petition
A written request signed by many people.

Word family

plead verb
to ask for something in an urgent way, or to state your answer in court
pleading noun
the act of asking urgently, or a formal statement in a legal case

Commonly confused: plea or plead?

plea vs plead

'Plead' is the verb; 'plea' is the noun. You plead guilty, but you enter a plea.

Practice

In a court case, what does 'plea' mean?

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