nolo contendere

noun no·lo con·ten·de·re \ ˈnō-(ˌ)lō-kən-ˈten-də-rē \

Definition of nolo contendere

: a plea in a criminal prosecution that without admitting guilt subjects the defendant to conviction but does not preclude denying the truth of the charges in a collateral proceeding

Recent Examples of nolo contendere from the Web

Mason entered nolo contendere pleas on the resisting, possession and failure-to-register charges.

— mark inabinett, AL.com, "Tre Mason announces intention to return to football with video," 28 Mar. 2018
Williams — who was identified by ARLnews as a D.C. resident — pleaded nolo contendere Tuesday, a plea that acknowledges that the state would be able to prove its allegations.

— fredrick kunkle, Washington Post, "At least one ATV stunt driver is going to jail, Virginia news site reports," 24 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nolo contendere.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of nolo contendere

Latin, I do not wish to contend

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First Known Use: 1829

in the meaning defined above

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Law Dictionary

nolo contendere

noun nolo con·ten·de·re \ -kən-ˈten-də-rē, -rā \

legal Definition of nolo contendere

: a plea by a defendant in a criminal prosecution that without admitting guilt subjects the defendant to conviction as in the case of a guilty plea but that does not bar denial of the truth of the charges in another proceeding (as a civil action based on the same acts) — called also no contest, non vult contendere; compare guilty, not guilty 1