Definition of plead
pleaded
play \ˈplē-dəd\ orpled
alsoplead
play \ˈpled\;pleading
intransitive verb
1 : to argue a case or cause in a court of law
2a : to make an allegation in an action or other legal proceeding; especially : to answer the previous pleading of the other party by denying facts therein stated or by alleging new factsb : to conduct pleadings
3 : to make a plea of a specified nature plead not guilty
4a : to argue for or against a claimb : to entreat or appeal earnestly
transitive verb
1 : to maintain (a case, a cause, etc.) in a court of law or other tribunal
2 : to allege in or by way of a legal plea
3 : to offer as a plea usually in defense, apology, or excuse
pleader
nounFrom the M-W Editors
Examples of plead in a Sentence
He begged and pleaded, but she would not change her mind.
She couldn't afford a lawyer to plead her case.
“How do you plead?” asked the judge.
“We plead guilty, Your Honor.”
He agreed to plead to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Recent Examples of plead from the Web
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Former athletic director Tim Curley, 63, and former vice president Gary Schultz, 67, each pleaded guilty.
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Over the last decade, the group’s founder, Wes Bledsoe, has testified before both state and federal committees pleading for tighter defenses.
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Jenkins pleaded no contest in 2014, but his sentencing has been delayed for years because of concerns about his mental competency.
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Kang was also charged with fraud and has pleaded not guilty.
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The remaining co-defendants have pleaded not guilty.
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Theft from Marine One A Virginia man has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $100,000 worth of equipment intended for Marine One, the helicopter fleet that transports the president.
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Michelle Morin was sentenced Thursday after pleading no contest to charges of conspiring to commit assault with a dangerous weapon, felony assault, and failure to report a death in the May 2015 killing of 60-year-old Domingo Ortiz, of Worcester.
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The video, widely circulated on social media this week in India, shows a man on the ground, pleading for his life before a mob kicks and beats him to death.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'plead'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of plead
Middle English pleden, plaiden, from Anglo-French plaider, pleder, from plai plea
First Known Use: 13th century
PLEAD Defined for English Language Learners
plead
playDefinition of plead for English Language Learners
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: to ask for something in a serious and emotional way
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: to try to prove (a case) in a court of law
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: to say in court that you are either guilty or not guilty of a crime : to make a plea
PLEAD Defined for Kids
plead
playDefinition of plead for Students
pleaded
orpled
\ˈpled\;pleading
1 : to ask for in a serious and emotional way : beg I pleaded for help.
2 : to offer as a defense, an excuse, or an apology To avoid going, I'll plead illness.
3 : to argue for or against : argue in court His lawyer will plead the case before a jury.
4 : to answer to a criminal charge They all plead not guilty.
Law Dictionary
Legal Definition of plead
pleaded
orpled
alsoplead
\ˈpled\ play playpleading
intransitive verb
1 : to make an allegation in an action or other legal proceeding; especially : to answer the pleading or charge of the other party by denying facts therein stated or by alleging new facts the defendant shall be given a copy of the indictment or information before the defendant is called upon to plead — Kansas Statutes Annotated — see also alternative
2 : to make a specific plea plead not guilty; also : to make a plea of guilty agreed to plead to the lesser charge
transitive verb
1 : to allege in or by way of a pleading : state in a pleading unless plaintiff pleads and proves facts showing actual malice, he cannot recover punitive damages — Kumaran v. Brotman, 617 N.E.2d 191 (1993) plead a case of fraudulent conveyance
2 : to offer as an excuse cannot plead ignorance of the law
pleadable
adjectivepleader
nounOrigin and Etymology of plead
Anglo-French plaider to argue in a court of law, from Old French plaid legal action, trial — more at plea
Learn More about plead
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for plead Spanish Central: Translation of plead Nglish: Translation of plead for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of plead for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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