plea Meaning & Definition
What Does Plea Mean?
Plea is used as a noun meaning a legal suit or action. It can also mean an allegation made by a party in support of a cause.
Plea: Key Facts
| Part of speech | noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈplē/ |
| Synonyms | supplication, adjuration and appeal |
| Plural | pleas |
Plea Definition (Noun)
- a legal suit or action
- an allegation made by a party in support of a cause: such as
- an allegation of fact compare demurrer:1
- a defendant's answer to a plaintiff's declaration in common-law practice
- an accused person's answer to a charge or indictment in criminal practice
- a plea of guilty
- something offered by way of excuse or justification
left early with the plea of a headache
- an earnest entreaty : appeal
their plea for understanding must be answered
Synonyms of Plea
Plea in a Sentence
a plea for mercy
make a plea
left early with the plea of a headache
their plea for understanding must be answered
the captive made an impassioned plea for his life to be spared
my only plea is that I've been overworked lately
Word Forms & Grammar
plea
pleas
plea (plural pleas)
plea (third-person singular simple present pleas, present participle pleaing, simple past and past participle pleaed)
Words That Rhyme With Plea
Origin of Plea
Origin 1: Middle English plaid, plait, ple "contention, dispute, legal conflict, lawsuit," borrowed from Anglo-French plait, pleit, plaid, plé "speech, discussion of affairs, argument, dispute, action at law" (also continental Old French), going back to early Medieval Latin placitum "liking, will, pleasure, opinion, belief, design, decision, agreement, contract, gathering at an agreed time, assembly to decide on matters of state, session of a law court, law court, action at law," going back to Latin, "opinion, belief, (in law) agreed condition," noun derivative from neuter of placitus, past participle of placēre "to be pleasing, find favor, find acceptance, commend itself, be agreed on" please:1
Origin 2: From Middle English ple, from Old French plait, plaid, from Medieval Latin placitum (“a decree, sentence, suit, plea, etc., Latin an opinion, determination, prescription, order; literally, that which is pleasing, pleasure”), neuter of placitus, past participle of placere (“to please”). Cognate with Spanish pleito (“lawsuit, suit”). Doublet of placit. See also please, pleasure.
First Known Use
13th century
Plea: Your Questions Answered
What part of speech is plea?
Plea is a noun.
What is another word for plea?
Words with a similar meaning to plea include supplication, adjuration and appeal. See the full list of plea synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of plea?
The plural of plea is pleas.