appellate

adjective

ap·​pel·​late ə-ˈpe-lət How to pronounce appellate (audio)
: of, relating to, or recognizing appeals
specifically : having the power to review the judgment of another tribunal
an appellate court

Examples of appellate 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.
Piper Sandler forecasts that appellate courts will issue rulings over the next several months. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 July 2025 Alligood’s appellate lawyer, Kyle Gee, did not respond to a request for comment. —Gary Klien, Mercury News, 24 July 2025 However, after years of maintaining her innocence and filing appeals, a New York state appellate court overturned her conviction in January 2025. —Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 22 July 2025 Carter is running for the District 3, Position 1 seat on the appellate court. —Grace Hurt, Arkansas Online, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for appellate

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin appellātus, past participle of appellāre "to appeal against a judgment," going back to Latin, "to speak to, address, apply to for support, refer to a higher authority" — more at appeal entry 2

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of appellate was in 1765

Rhymes for appellate

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Browse Nearby Words

appellant
appellate
appellation
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Cite this Entry

“Appellate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appellate. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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Kids Definition

appellate

adjective
ap·​pel·​late ə-ˈpel-ət How to pronounce appellate (audio)
: having the power to review the decisions of a lower court
an appellate court

Legal Definition

appellate

adjective
ap·​pel·​late ə-ˈpe-lət How to pronounce appellate (audio)
: of or relating to appeals or the power to hear appeals
the appellate process
an appellate court
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