Pleads not guilty
/plidz nɑt ˈɡɪlti/
verb phraseB2third person singular present tense
Definition
When someone "pleads not guilty," they tell the court they deny the crime or wrong they are charged with. This is a formal statement made in legal situations, usually at the start of a trial, showing the person wants to defend themselves and say they are innocent.
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See It in Action
Formal denial of a crime in court
- •The defendant pleads not guilty to the charges.
- •She pleads not guilty during the trial.
- •When asked, he pleads not guilty to the accusation.
Request for a trial to prove innocence
- •By pleading not guilty, the accused asks for a court hearing.
- •Pleading not guilty starts the legal process of defense.
- •The lawyer advised him to plead not guilty to get a fair trial.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "pleads not guilty" like saying "I did not do it," but in a formal, serious way in court.
- ✓Imagine a person standing in a courtroom, speaking clearly to the judge to say they are innocent.
- ✓It feels like trying to protect yourself and show you want a chance to explain or prove your side.
- ✓Sounds like "pleads" (sounds like "pleads" as in asking strongly) + "not guilty" (like "not bad" but meaning "not responsible for crime").
- ✓Think of a detective story where the accused person says, "I am innocent," and wants a trial to prove it.
- ✓NOT like "confesses" (which means admitting guilt); "pleads not guilty" means denying guilt.
- ✓NOT like "pleads guilty" (which means admitting the crime); this is the opposite.
- ✓NOT like everyday "saying no"; this is a legal answer with serious meaning.
Try Other Words
- •Denies: says something is not true (Use in everyday or informal contexts)
- •Refuses to admit guilt: does not accept responsibility (Use when emphasizing not accepting blame)
- •Rejects the charges: says the accusations are wrong (Use in legal or formal discussions)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "pleads" (from "plead" meaning to say or ask formally) + "not" (negation) + "guilty" (responsible for a crime)
- •Etymology: "Plead" comes from Old French "plaider," meaning to argue or speak in court; "guilty" from Old English "gyltig," meaning responsible for fault
- •Historical development: Used in legal systems for centuries to state a response to criminal charges
- •Modern usage: Common phrase in courtrooms when defendants answer criminal accusations; starts legal process for trial
Reflect & Connect
•Why is it important for someone to have the right to plead not guilty in a fair legal system?
•How might pleading not guilty affect what happens next in a trial or legal case?
Fill in the blanks
1.When a person pleads not guilty, they ___ the crime but want a trial to show their innocence.
2.Pleading not guilty usually happens ___ the court asks for a response to the charges.
3.Unlike pleading guilty, pleading not guilty means the person ___ responsibility for the crime.
4.The lawyer told his client to plead not guilty to ___ the chance for a fair trial.
5.When someone pleads not guilty, the court will ___ the case to decide what really happened.
6.Pleading not guilty is a formal way to ___ the accusation, not just a casual "no."
7.If a person pleads not guilty, it means they ___ the charges and want to defend themselves.