Definition
An agreement where a defendant pleads guilty in exchange for reduced charges or a lighter sentence. Negotiated justice at its finest.
Example Usage
The defendant accepted a plea deal: guilty to felony fraud in exchange for dropping the conspiracy charges.
Origin
Modern American criminal practice; became standardized in the 20th century due to case overload
Fun Fact
About 90% of criminal cases end in plea deals rather than trial—the court system would collapse without them.
Source: Criminal procedure and prosecution terminology
Related Terms
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See “Plea Deal” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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