plea
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.an urgent and emotional request for help or for someone to do something.
n.an earnest or urgent entreaty or appeal, often made in a state of distress.
Simple“The family made a public plea for the safe return of their missing dog.”
In context“The humanitarian organisation issued a desperate plea for medical supplies as the crisis in the border region intensified.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a formal statement in court saying if you are guilty or not guilty of a crime.
n.a formal statement made by or on behalf of a defendant in a court of law.
Simple“The defendant entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.”
In context“After months of negotiation, the suspect agreed to a reduced charge in exchange for a guilty plea.”
UsageCommonly used with the verbs 'enter', 'make', or 'change'.
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a reason or excuse you give to explain why you did something or why you cannot do something.
n.an allegation or excuse used in defence or justification of an action.
Simple“He left the party early on the plea of having a headache.”
In context“The governor rejected the proposal on the plea that the state budget could not sustain further infrastructure spending.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to argue a case or ask for something in a serious way.
v.to plead or argue a cause; a regional variant of the standard verb 'plead'.
Simple“The lawyer began to plea the case before the local magistrate.”
In context“In certain northern districts, you may still hear solicitors use the term to plea rather than to plead during preliminary hearings.”
Teacher's tipThis verb form is rare in modern standard English; learners should use 'plead' in almost all contexts.
Usage plea agreement · plea deal
“He also faces state charges , although his lawyers are seeking to get those dismissed following his guilty plea.”
“Back on July 28 , Nair stood before the podium and made a plea to the public for help in solving the case.”
From Middle English ple, from Old French plait, plaid, from Medieval Latin placitum (“a decree, sentence, suit, plea, etc., Latin an opinion, determination, prescription, order; literally, that which is pleasing, pleasure”), neuter of placitus, past participle of placere (“to please”). Cognate with Spanish pleito (“lawsuit, suit”). Doublet of placit. See also please, pleasure.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.