nolo contendere
[ noh-loh kuh n-ten-duh-ree ]
/ ˈnoʊ loʊ kənˈtɛn də ri /
noun Law.
(in a criminal case) a defendant's pleading that does not admit guilt but subjects him or her to punishment as though a guilty plea had been entered, the determination of guilt remaining open in other proceedings.
Also
nolo.
Origin of nolo contendere
1870–75; < Latin: I am unwilling to contend
Words nearby nolo contendere
noli-me-tangere,
nolichucky,
nolle prosequi,
nollekens,
nolo,
nolo contendere,
noludar,
nom de guerre,
nom de plume,
nom.,
nom. cap.
British Dictionary definitions for nolo contendere
nolo contendere
/ (ˈnəʊləʊ kɒnˈtɛndərɪ) /
noun
law, mainly US
a plea made by a defendant to a criminal charge having the same effect in those proceedings as a plea of guilty but not precluding him from denying the charge in a subsequent action
Word Origin for nolo contendere
Latin: I do not wish to contend
Cultural definitions for nolo contendere
nolo contendere
[ (noh-loh kuhn-ten-duh-ree, kuhn-ten-duh-ray) ]
A plea that can be entered in a criminal or civil case, by which an accused person neither admits guilt nor proclaims innocence of a charge. Nolo contendere is Latin for “I do not wish to contend.”