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plea

n. · v.
US //ˈpɫi// UK //plˈiː// plea
  1. 1 an emotional request (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    an urgent and emotional request for help or for someone to do something.

    an earnest or urgent entreaty or appeal, often made in a state of distress.

    Example

    The family made a public plea for the safe return of their missing dog.

    Example

    The humanitarian organisation issued a desperate plea for medical supplies as the crisis in the border region intensified.
  2. 2 legal statement (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Law

    a formal statement in court saying if you are guilty or not guilty of a crime.

    a formal statement made by or on behalf of a defendant in a court of law.

    Example

    The defendant entered a plea of not guilty to all charges.

    Example

    After months of negotiation, the suspect agreed to a reduced charge in exchange for a guilty plea.

    Usage

    Commonly used with the verbs 'enter', 'make', or 'change'.
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  1. 3 an excuse (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Literary Formal

    a reason or excuse you give to explain why you did something or why you cannot do something.

    an allegation or excuse used in defence or justification of an action.

    Example

    He left the party early on the plea of having a headache.

    Example

    The governor rejected the proposal on the plea that the state budget could not sustain further infrastructure spending.
  2. 4 to argue or plead (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Dialect British English

    to argue a case or ask for something in a serious way.

    to plead or argue a cause; a regional variant of the standard verb 'plead'.

    Example

    The lawyer began to plea the case before the local magistrate.

    Example

    In certain northern districts, you may still hear solicitors use the term to plea rather than to plead during preliminary hearings.

    Teacher's tip

    This verb form is rare in modern standard English; learners should use 'plead' in almost all contexts.
Origin

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.

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