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

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

On June 22, McNelis pleaded nolo contendere to firing in a compact area and received a three-year deferred sentence. —BostonGlobe.com, 14 July 2022

Brian Allsworth, 49, entered a plea of nolo contendere to first-degree child molestation at Providence County Superior Court, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced Friday morning. —BostonGlobe.com, 29 Oct. 2021

Nicholas Dailey, 30, entered a plea of nolo contendere in Washington County Superior Court, to two counts of manufacture and possession of a ghost gun produced by a 3D printing process, the attorney general’s office announced Wednesday. —Alexa Gagosz, BostonGlobe.com, 27 July 2022

The courts can wipe out camp prisoners guilty or nolo contendere pleas, and a plea of not guilty can be entered, or verdicts of guilt to be set aside. —Paul Vercammen, CNN, 24 Apr. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Latin, I do not wish to contend

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Legal 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 1

Etymology

Latin, I do not wish to contend