plädieren

Plädieren is a German verb meaning to plead, advocate, or argue in favor of a position. It is most commonly used in legal contexts to describe presenting and arguing a case before a court, typically by a lawyer or prosecutor. The standard construction is auf + object, as in der Verteidiger plädiert auf Freispruch or sie plädiert auf Schadenersatz. In many trials the parties deliver a closing speech, referred to as das Plädoyer or das Schlussplädoyer, in which the evidence is summarized and a verdict or outcome is requested.

In broader use, plädieren can also mean to advocate for a policy, cause, or idea. Examples include statements like für eine Reform plädiert er seit Jahren or die Organisation plädiert für mehr Umweltschutz. The term tends to be formal and is more common in legal, political, or scholarly language; in everyday speech it may be replaced by seek to advocate, sich einsetzen, or argumentieren depending on the nuance.

Etymology and related terms: plädieren is borrowed from French plaider, with the related noun Plädoyer (and the older form Plaidoirie) used in German to denote the closing argument in court. Related phrases include das Schlussplädoyer (the closing argument by a party), sowie Plädoyer der Verteidigung oder Plädoyer der Staatsanwaltschaft.

Notes: While closely tied to courtroom procedures, plädieren also conveys a sense of formal advocacy for a position beyond the legal arena, maintaining a professional and rhetorical connotation.