pleading

noun

plead·​ing ˈplē-diŋ How to pronounce pleading (audio)
1
: advocacy of a cause in a court of law
2
a
: one of the formal usually written allegations and counter allegations made alternately by the parties in a legal action or proceeding
b
: the action or process performed by the parties in presenting such formal allegations until a single point at issue is produced
c
: the introduction of one of these allegations and especially the first one
d
: the body of rules according to which these allegations are framed
3
: the act or an instance of making a plea
4
: a sincere entreaty

Examples of pleading in a Sentence

I'm tired of their begging and pleading. Despite our pleadings to be allowed to leave, they kept us there for several more hours.
Recent Examples on the Web Sylvie opted to kill He Who Remains against Loki's pleading, and a multitude of timelines were unleashed. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 5 Sep. 2023 And then there are the gunshots, the screams, the pleading. Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Instead of reaching for the highest high notes, his voice simply goes where it’s needed, without any pleading, or struggle, or strain. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023 Nicholson, giving an astonishing performance, displays a gorgeous ease onstage, and is able to play Damon as both the supportive lover and the pleading bully, sometimes in the same moment, his arms around Nina’s waist. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2024 This idea that lawyers and judges who use generative AI today are also going to lose their minds and cede control of the courtroom and legal pleadings to the AI is not simply farfetched but also dangerously alarmist. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 His arguments failed to land, and, Ian told me, the prosecutor later called to float the idea of Oakley’s pleading to forty years. Sarah Stillman, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023 In 2011, after her election to the governorship, Ms. Haley removed one of South Carolina’s few billionaires, Darla Moore, from the University of South Carolina board, replacing her with a campaign contributor over the pleadings of Republicans and Democrats alike. Sharon Lafraniere, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2024 However — despite Roy Wood Jr.’s very public pleadings at the Emmys — The Daily Show has opted not to bring in a full-time host, and instead will have Stewart return for Monday night broadcasts. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pleading.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English plaiding, pledynge "arguing, contention, legal dispute," from plaiden, pleden "to contend legally, argue in court, plead" + -ing, -ynge -ing entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pleading was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near pleading

Cite this Entry

“Pleading.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pleading. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Legal Definition

pleading

noun
plead·​ing
1
a
: one of the formal declarations (as a complaint or answer) exchanged by the parties in a legal proceeding (as a suit) setting forth claims, averments, allegations, denials, or defenses
also : a written document embodying such a declaration see also relation back
b
: any of the allegations, averments, claims, denials, or defenses set forth in a pleading
alternative pleading
: a pleading that sets out an alternative theory in support of a plaintiff's claim for relief or a defendant's defense
amended pleading
: a pleading that is filed to replace an original pleading and that contains matters omitted from or not known at the time of the original pleading
responsive pleading \ ri-​ˈspän-​siv-​ \
: a pleading that directly responds to another pleading (as by denying in an answer allegations in a complaint)
sham pleading
: a pleading that is factually false, is not made in good faith, and that may be struck
supplemental pleading
: a pleading that supplements an earlier pleading with matters that have occurred or come into existence since the date of the original pleading
2
: a process or system through which the parties in a legal proceeding present their allegations
code pleading
: pleading (as fact pleading) done in accordance with the rules set down in a code

Note: Code pleading began in 1848 in New York State and was a departure from the complex system of common-law pleading, which included a lengthy set of stages by which a single issue was produced, and which was determined by the type of writ under which the plaintiff proceeded.

fact pleading
: pleading that requires a plaintiff to set out in the complaint facts sufficient to establish a cause of action compare notice pleading in this entry
notice pleading
: pleading that is characterized especially by a simplified description sufficient to give notice of a claim or defense rather than by a technical account of any facts pertinent to the claim or defense compare fact pleading in this entry

Note: Notice pleading is allowed under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and in a majority of states, although complex cases often require substantial detail in the pleading.

More from Merriam-Webster on pleading

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