# plea

> English word · Noun · IPA /pliː/ · frequency rank #7,725

## Definitions
1. An appeal, petition, urgent prayer or entreaty.
2. An excuse; an apology.
3. That which is alleged or pleaded, in defense or in justification.
4. That which is alleged by a party in support of his cause.
5. An allegation of fact in a cause, as distinguished from a demurrer.
6. The defendant’s answer to the plaintiff’s declaration and demand.
7. A cause in court; a lawsuit; as, the Court of Common Pleas.

## Etymology
From Middle English ple, from Old French plait, plaid, from Medieval Latin placitum (“a decree, sentence, suit, plea, etc., Latin an opinion, determination, prescription, order; literally, that which is pleasing, pleasure”), neuter of placitus, past participle of placere (“to please”). Cognate with Spanish pleito (“lawsuit, suit”). Doublet of placit. See also please, pleasure.

## Easily confused with
- **Poe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-poe)
- **PSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-psa)
- **ply** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-ply)
- **PTA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-pta)
- **PRA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-pra)
- **PPE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-ppe)
- **poa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-poa)
- **pye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-pye)
- **PPA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-ppa)
- **plus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-plus)
- **plot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-plot)
- **poem** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-poem)
- **pole** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-pole)
- **poet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-poet)
- **plug** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-plug)
- **prey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-prey)
- **prep** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-prep)
- **pres** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-pres)
- **plum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-plum)
- **prem** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plea-vs-prem)

## Common misspellings (4)
`lpea`, `pela`, `pllea`, `pplea`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/plea