bargain plea
noun
Definition of bargain plea
slang
: a plea of guilty to one usually the least of several charges allowed by the prosecution when the prosecution stands to gain thereby (as where an offer of prosecution under a lesser charge is useful in persuading an offender to turn state's evidence)
Explore M-W
There's more!
Love words? You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.
Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:
- More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
- Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
- Advanced search features
- Ad free!
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up bargain plea? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!