plea

The word “plea” means an urgent, heartfelt request. In plain terms, a heartfelt appeal, or, in a courtroom, a defendant's formal answer to a charge.

“Plea” is pronounced plee (/pliː/ in IPA).

Here is “plea” used in a sentence: “She made a tearful plea for donations to the shelter.”

Words with a similar meaning to “plea” include plaidoyer.

“Plea” is a noun.

The word “plea” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French plait/plaid, from Medieval Latin placitum ("a decree" or "that which pleases"). Related to please and pleasure.

“Plea” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Plea” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an urgent, heartfelt request.

A plea is an urgent, heartfelt request made with strong emotion, while an ordinary request can be routine or neutral. A plea implies desperation or deep need, so it carries far more emotional weight than a simple ask.

A plea is a defendant's formal response to a charge, while a plea bargain is an agreement in which the defendant pleads guilty, often to a lesser charge, in exchange for a lighter sentence. The plea is the statement itself; the bargain is the negotiated deal behind it.

Common pairings include "a plea for help," "a heartfelt plea," and "a desperate plea," plus the legal phrases "enter a plea" and "plea of guilty." These collocations reflect the word's two senses — an emotional appeal and a formal legal response.