nolo contendere
noun
no·lo con·ten·de·re
ˈnō-(ˌ)lō-kən-ˈten-də-rē 
: a plea in a criminal prosecution that without admitting guilt subjects the defendant to conviction but does not preclude denying the truth of the charges in a collateral proceeding
Examples of nolo contendere in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The former president and business manager of the union local entered a plea of nolo contendere, which acknowledges that prosecutors had sufficient evidence to convict him without admitting guilt, to felony theft.
—
Matt Hubbard, Baltimore Sun, 20 Nov. 2024
So Thug pleaded nolo contendere to one count of conspiracy to violate the RICO Act and a leadership count of criminal street gang activity, against the state’s objections.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
But the trial was canceled on Sept. 14, when Morris entered a nolo contendere (no contest) plea to a Class C charge and was ordered to pay a fine of $362
This story was originally published April 9, 2024, 4:38 PM.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2024
On March 26, 2023, Dustin Parra pleaded nolo contendere or no contest to negligent homicide, and Riddle got to question him on the stand.
—David Begnaud, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2024
Inside the courtroom at his arraignment, Miller pleaded nolo contendere, or no contest, to two misdemeanor charges of vandalism and obstruction of a police officer.
—Steph MacHado, BostonGlobe.com, 18 July 2023
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Matt Hubbard, Baltimore Sun, 20 Nov. 2024
So Thug pleaded nolo contendere to one count of conspiracy to violate the RICO Act and a leadership count of criminal street gang activity, against the state’s objections.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
But the trial was canceled on Sept. 14, when Morris entered a nolo contendere (no contest) plea to a Class C charge and was ordered to pay a fine of $362
This story was originally published April 9, 2024, 4:38 PM.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2024
On March 26, 2023, Dustin Parra pleaded nolo contendere or no contest to negligent homicide, and Riddle got to question him on the stand.
—David Begnaud, CBS News, 6 Jan. 2024
Inside the courtroom at his arraignment, Miller pleaded nolo contendere, or no contest, to two misdemeanor charges of vandalism and obstruction of a police officer.
—Steph MacHado, BostonGlobe.com, 18 July 2023
Cite this Entry
“Nolo contendere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nolo%20contendere. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
nolo contendere
noun
nolo con·ten·de·re
-kən-ˈten-də-rē, -rā
: a plea by a defendant in a criminal prosecution that without admitting guilt subjects the defendant to conviction as in the case of a guilty plea but that does not bar denial of the truth of the charges in another proceeding (as a civil action based on the same acts)
called also no contest, non vult contendere
compare guilty, not guilty sense 1Etymology
Latin, I do not wish to contend
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