Definition of: pleading

(plē′ding) noun
1. The act of making a plea or argument in behalf of someone or something; specifically, the oral advocacy of a cause in court.
2. Law The art, science, or system of preparing the formal written statements of the parties to an action, leading to the joinder of issue; also, any one of such statements: collectively called the pleadings in a case. See synonyms under PETITION.
—plead′ing·ly adverb