Real Dictionary

nolo contendere in American English
a plea by which a defendant in a criminal case does not make a defense but does not admit guilt: it leaves the defendant open to conviction but does not prejudice his or her case in collateral proceedings
noun: a defendant's pleading that does not admit guilt but subjects him or her to punishment as though a guilty plea had been entered, the determination of guilt remaining open in other proceedings

nolo contendere in British English
plea indicating that the defendant does not wish to contest the case
noun: a plea made by a defendant to a criminal charge having the same effect in those proceedings as a plea of guilty but not precluding him or her from denying the charge in a subsequent action