plural pleas
1
: a serious and emotional request for something
We are making a plea to all companies to stop polluting the environment.
—often + forNo one heard his pleas for help.
the prisoner's passionate/desperate/fervent plea for mercy
2
law
a
: a statement in which a person who has been accused of a crime says in court that he or she is guilty or not guilty of the crime
The defendant entered a plea of not guilty.
a guilty plea
b
: a statement in which a person says that he or she is guilty of a particular crime : a plea of guilty
She and her lawyers accepted a lesser plea [=they said that she was guilty of a less serious crime] of manslaughter.
c
: a reason or excuse for committing a crime
He murdered his wife and got off on an insanity plea. [=the court said that he was not guilty because he was insane]
Cite this Entry
“Plea.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/plea. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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