plea: Meaning and Definition of

plea

Pronunciation: (plē), [key]
— n.
  1. an appeal or entreaty: a plea for mercy.
  2. something that is alleged, urged, or pleaded in defense or justification.
  3. an excuse; pretext: He begged off on the plea that his car wasn't working.
    1. an allegation made by, or on behalf of, a party to a legal suit, in support of his or her claim or defense.
    2. a defendant's answer to a legal declaration or charge.
    3. (in courts of equity) a plea that admits the truth of the declaration, but alleges special or new matter in avoidance.
    4. Obs.a suit or action.
  4. See (def. 4b).
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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