plea

USPLEE/pli/

8 meanings of plea

1
nouncountable
An urgent request that asks someone for help, mercy, or support.
Like begging a friend to help you when you really need it.
Her plea for help finally reached the right people.
The trapped hikers sent out a desperate plea for rescue.
Similarappeal, request, entreaty, petition, call
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2
nouncountable
A claim or reason that someone gives in court to support their side of a case.
Like the reasons you list to prove your side is right.
The defendant's plea rested on a single witness's account.
Lawyers filed a plea setting out the facts that supported their client.
Similarsubmission, argument, statement, claim
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3
nouncountable
In a court case, the answer a defendant gives to the claims made against them.
Like writing back to say which parts of an accusation you agree with and which you reject.
The defendant's plea denied every charge in the lawsuit.
She filed her plea answering the complaint within the deadline.
Similaranswer, defense
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4
nouncountable
An excuse a person gives to explain or defend what they did.
Like saying the dog ate your homework to explain why it's missing.
His usual plea was that he had simply forgotten.
She offered a weak plea about being too busy to call.
Similarexcuse, justification, pretext, defense
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5
nouncountable
A claim or reason someone offers to defend or justify what they did.
Like explaining you broke the window only to save someone inside.
Self-defense was his plea after the fight.
Her plea was that she acted to protect her children.
Similardefense, justification, argument
6
nouncountable
In a lawsuit, a statement claiming certain facts are true, rather than arguing about the law.
Like arguing about what really happened instead of arguing about the rules.
His plea stated the facts about where he was that night.
The lawyer filed a plea claiming the contract was never signed.
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7
nouncountable
A legal case or lawsuit brought before a court.
Like a court case where two people settle a dispute before a judge.
The merchant's plea against his debtor dragged through the courts for years.
Several pleas were still pending before the county judges that term.
Similarsuit, case, lawsuit, action
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8
verbdialectalEnglandScotlandtransitive or intransitive
To argue or make a case for something, especially before a court or council.
Like standing up to argue why you should win.
He went to plea his innocence to the magistrate.
We plea with them for more time every single year.
Similarplead, argue, press, petition, beg
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Practice

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Origin

From Old French plait, from Latin placitum meaning a decree or opinion, which came from placere, "to please."