plea
noun [ C ]
uk/pliː/ us LAW
a statement made by someone in a court of law in which they say if they are guilty of something that they are accused of:
a guilty/not guilty plea The guilty plea will mark the second time in eight years that the oil company has been convicted of a federal environmental crime in Alaska.
a plea of guilty/not guilty She entered a plea of not guilty in federal court Friday to multiple extortion and bribery charges.
enter/withdraw a plea Recent reforms will allow them to enter a plea of diminished political responsibility.