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plea
/pliː/
What does "plea" mean in English?
formal requestShe made a plea for help.
She asked for help in a serious way.
How to use "plea" correctly: definitions and examples in English?
Law
formal
A serious or formal request, especially in a legal setting.
The defendant entered a plea of not guilty.
The defendant formally stated that he was not guilty.
The lawyer filed a plea for leniency.
The lawyer asked the court to be more forgiving.
In everyday speech, 'plea' often implies urgency or emotional weight; in law it refers to a specific statement of guilt or innocence.
Collocations
plea bargainan agreement where a defendant pleads guilty in exchange for a reduced sentencemake a pleato ask earnestly for somethingplea for helpa request for assistance, usually urgent
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Legal context tip
When discussing court matters, specify the type of plea (e.g., 'not guilty', 'guilty', 'no contest') to avoid ambiguity.
Gold Rule
Formality rule
Reserve 'plea' for formal or urgent requests; use 'ask' for informal situations.
Word Origin
From Old French 'plee' meaning 'a request', derived from Latin 'placitum' (a decree or decision).
Usage Notes
Use 'plea' for serious or formal appeals; for casual requests, prefer 'ask' or 'request'. In legal contexts, it has a precise meaning related to statements of guilt or innocence.
Word Breakdown
plea
request
rootEnglish Dictionary