Nolo Contendere Definition

nōlō kən-tĕndə-rē
noun
A plea by which a defendant in a criminal case does not make a defense but does not admit guilt: it leaves the defendant open to conviction but does not prejudice his or her case in collateral proceedings.
Webster's New World
A plea available in certain jurisdictions in which a party declines to contest a charge without formally admitting guilt.
Webster's New World Law
Synonyms:
  • non vult

Other Word Forms of Nolo Contendere

Noun

Singular:
nolo contendere
Plural:
nolo contenderes

Origin of Nolo Contendere

  • Latin nōlō contendere I do not wish to contend nōlō first person sing. present tense of nōlle to be unwilling contendere to contend

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Directly from Latin nolo contendere (“I do not wish to contend").

    From Wiktionary

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nolo contendere