plea

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

plea /pli/   n. [countable] , pl. pleas. 

1. an appeal or request:
   a plea for mercy.
2. an excuse;
   pretext:
   He begged off on the plea that his car wasn't working.
3. Law
   • a defendant's answer to a legal charge:
     a plea of not guilty.
   • Law a plea of guilty.

See -plac-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

plea  (plē), n. 

1. an appeal or entreaty:
   a plea for mercy.
2. something that is alleged, urged, or pleaded in defense or justification.
3. an excuse;
   pretext:
   He begged off on the plea that his car wasn't working.
4. Law
   • an allegation made by, or on behalf of, a party to a legal suit, in support of his or her claim or defense.
   • a defendant's answer to a legal declaration or charge.
   • Law (in courts of equity) a plea that admits the truth of the declaration, but alleges special or new matter in avoidance.
   • [Obs.] a suit or action.
5. Slang Terms cop a plea, See cop ¹ (def. 4b).

• early Medieval Latin placitum law-court, suit, decision, decree, Latin: opinion (literally, that which is pleasing or agreeable), noun, nominal use of neuter of past participle of placēre to please
• Old French
• Middle English ple, earlier plaid 1175–1225

Synonyms

• 1. request, petition, supplication, solicitation, suit.
• 3. justification.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

plea / pliː/ noun

1. an earnest entreaty or request
2. something alleged or pleaded by or on behalf of a party to legal proceedings in support of his or her claim or defence
3. the answer made by an accused to the charge: a plea of guilty
4. (in Scotland and formerly in England) a suit or action at law
5. an excuse, justification, or pretext: I gave the plea of a previous engagement

Etymology: 13th Century: from Anglo-Norman plai, from Old French plaid lawsuit, from Medieval Latin placitum court order (literally: what is pleasing), from Latin placēre to please