- 1(formal) an urgent emotional request plea (for something) She made an impassioned plea for help. plea (to somebody) (to do something) a plea to industries to stop pollution He refused to listen to her tearful pleas.
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- 2(law) a statement made by someone or for someone who is accused of a crime a plea of guilty/not guilty to enter a guilty plea
- 3plea of something (law) a reason given to a court for doing or not doing something He was charged with murder, but got off on a plea of insanity. Idioms
to admit in court to being guilty of a small crime in the hope of receiving less severe punishment for a more serious crime compare plea bargaining
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