Plea
/pliː/
nounB2
Definition
A plea is when someone asks for something very seriously and with strong feelings. People make pleas when they need help, forgiveness, or understanding, especially in important or urgent moments. It can also mean a formal statement in court where a person says if they are guilty or not.
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See It in Action
A serious and emotional request for help or mercy
- •The child made a plea for his lost dog to come back.
- •She made a plea to the community to support the charity.
- •His plea for forgiveness was heartfelt and sincere.
A formal statement in court about guilt or innocence
- •The defendant entered a guilty plea.
- •The lawyer advised his client to change the plea to not guilty.
- •The judge accepted the plea agreement.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "plea" like "ask," but much stronger and more emotional—like when you really need something, not just casually asking.
- ✓Picture someone raising their hands and speaking with hope and worry, asking for help or mercy.
- ✓It's the feeling when you really want someone to listen and understand your problem or need.
- ✓Sounds like "plea" → imagine a person saying "Please!" with a soft and long "ee" sound, showing urgency.
- ✓In stories, a character might make a plea to a king or a friend when they are in trouble.
- ✓NOT like "demand" (which is forceful and angry), a plea is softer and more emotional, showing need and hope.
- ✓NOT like "request" (which can be polite and calm), a plea is urgent and often emotional.
- ✓In court, a plea is a formal answer to charges, different from everyday asking.
Try Other Words
- •Request: a polite or formal asking (Use when the situation is less emotional or urgent)
- •Appeal: a serious or urgent request for help or support (Use when asking for help from a group or authority)
- •Beg: to ask for something with strong emotion, often repeatedly (Use when the emotion is very strong or desperate)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no prefix or suffix, root word "plea")
- •Etymology: from Old French "plaid" meaning "lawsuit, plea," from Latin "placitum" meaning "plea, agreement"
- •Historical development: Originally used in legal settings to mean a formal statement or argument, later extended to mean any serious or emotional request
- •Modern usage: Used both in everyday language for emotional requests and in legal language for formal statements
Reflect & Connect
•When have you heard or made a plea in your own life or in stories you know?
•How does a plea differ from a simple ask or demand in the way it makes you feel?
Fill in the blanks
1.The charity made a ___ to the public for donations after the disaster.
2.In court, a ___ of guilty means the person admits to the crime.
3.She made a ___ for help when she was lost in the forest.
4.Unlike a casual request, a ___ often shows strong emotion and urgency.
5.The politician’s ___ for peace was heard by many people around the world.
6.When someone makes a ___, they usually hope for ___ or understanding.
7.The lawyer advised his client to change the ___ from guilty to not guilty.