no contest

noun

: nolo contendere

Examples of no contest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In Arizona last year, 35-year-old Robb Hintzsche pleaded no contest to two counts of second-degree murder in a crash that killed a Lyft driver, her passenger and the passenger’s dog in the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert. — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026 Jeffrey Mosteller, 66, pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter in Oakland County circuit court in Michigan on Monday. — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026 Steppach, 49, was the owner of Tim’s Tavern on Edison Avenue, where people protested daily in December after Steppach pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor. — Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 3 Sep. 2026 Davis, 29, entered his no contest plea three days before his trial was scheduled to start, court records show. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for no contest

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of no contest was in 1931

Browse Nearby Words

no-confidence vote
no contest
no-count
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“No contest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/no%20contest. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Legal Definition

no contest

noun
: nolo contendere
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All