1 (formal) ~ (for sth) an urgent emotional request:
She made an impassioned plea for help. * a plea to industries to stop pollution * He refused to listen to her tearful pleas.
2 (law) a statement made by sb or for sb who is accused of a crime:
a plea of guilty / not guilty * to enter / offer a guilty plea
3 ~ of sth (law) a reason given to a court of law for doing or not doing sth:
He was charged with murder, but got off on a plea of insanity.
