nolo contendere

noun

no·​lo con·​ten·​de·​re ˈnō-(ˌ)lō-kən-ˈten-də-rē How to pronounce nolo contendere (audio)
: 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

Examples of nolo contendere in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web On March 26, 2023, Dustin Parra pleaded nolo contendere or no contest to negligent homicide, and Riddle got to question him on the stand. David Begnaud, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2024 Inside the courtroom at his arraignment, Miller pleaded nolo contendere, or no contest, to two misdemeanor charges of vandalism and obstruction of a police officer. Steph MacHado, BostonGlobe.com, 18 July 2023 On June 22, McNelis pleaded nolo contendere to firing in a compact area and received a three-year deferred sentence. BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2022 Brian Allsworth, 49, entered a plea of nolo contendere to first-degree child molestation at Providence County Superior Court, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced Friday morning. BostonGlobe.com, 29 Oct. 2021 Nicholas Dailey, 30, entered a plea of nolo contendere in Washington County Superior Court, to two counts of manufacture and possession of a ghost gun produced by a 3D printing process, the attorney general’s office announced Wednesday. Alexa Gagosz, BostonGlobe.com, 27 July 2022 The courts can wipe out camp prisoners guilty or nolo contendere pleas, and a plea of not guilty can be entered, or verdicts of guilt to be set aside. Paul Vercammen, CNN, 24 Apr. 2022 Depina entered a plea of nolo contendere to one count of carrying a pistol without a license and one count of alteration of identifying marks on a firearm. BostonGlobe.com, 2 Nov. 2021 With a no contest, or nolo contendere, plea, the defendant does not admit guilt but opts not to contest the charges. Christine Dempsey, courant.com, 5 Nov. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nolo contendere.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin, I do not wish to contend

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nolo contendere was in 1829

Dictionary Entries Near nolo contendere

Cite this Entry

“Nolo contendere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nolo%20contendere. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Legal Definition

nolo contendere

noun
nolo con·​ten·​de·​re -kən-ˈten-də-rē, -rā How to pronounce nolo contendere (audio)
: 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 sense 1
Etymology

Latin, I do not wish to contend

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