What is the Latin word for plea?

The usual Latin words for “plea” are causa, excūsātiō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“plea” in Latin

causacause, reason; case, claim, contention; cause, judicial process, lawsuit excūsātiōexcuse

The English word plea itself goes back to Latin plācō, through placitum.

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

plea

Act or form of pleading in a court of law, causae dictio.

Allegation, excuse, causa; excusatio. Vid: also, PRETEXT.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for plea?: The usual Latin words for “plea” are causa, excūsātiō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.