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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web 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 Depina entered a plea of nolo contendere to one count of carrying a pistol without a license and one count of alteration of identifying marks on a firearm. BostonGlobe.com, 2 Nov. 2021 With a no contest, or nolo contendere, plea, the defendant does not admit guilt but opts not to contest the charges. Christine Dempsey, courant.com, 5 Nov. 2021 Rosado entered a plea of nolo contendere to possession of a firearm after previously having been convicted of a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license. BostonGlobe.com, 2 Nov. 2021 Mason entered nolo contendere pleas on the resisting, possession and failure-to-register charges. Mark Inabinett, AL.com, 28 Mar. 2018 Williams — who was identified by ARLnews as a D.C. resident — pleaded nolo contendere Tuesday, a plea that acknowledges that the state would be able to prove its allegations. Fredrick Kunkle, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2017 See More
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 Depina entered a plea of nolo contendere to one count of carrying a pistol without a license and one count of alteration of identifying marks on a firearm. BostonGlobe.com, 2 Nov. 2021 With a no contest, or nolo contendere, plea, the defendant does not admit guilt but opts not to contest the charges. Christine Dempsey, courant.com, 5 Nov. 2021 Rosado entered a plea of nolo contendere to possession of a firearm after previously having been convicted of a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license. BostonGlobe.com, 2 Nov. 2021 Mason entered nolo contendere pleas on the resisting, possession and failure-to-register charges. Mark Inabinett, AL.com, 28 Mar. 2018 Williams — who was identified by ARLnews as a D.C. resident — pleaded nolo contendere Tuesday, a plea that acknowledges that the state would be able to prove its allegations. Fredrick Kunkle, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2017 See More 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