appellate

adjective

ap·​pel·​late ə-ˈpe-lət 

: 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

But the workers left the area as the center took their case to the federal appellate court. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 12 June 2026

The appellate court ruled in March that 37 absentee ballots that were considered uncounted must be reviewed and included. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 26 June 2026

Thus far, the courts that matter, the federal courts, and the circuit courts, the appellate courts have found that the CFTC has exclusive jurisdiction over this area. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 12 June 2026

In the aftermath of the collapse, victims’ families and injured survivors filed lawsuits against the property owner, manager, porch contractor and the city, the last of which a state appellate court ruled could not be held liable. — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026

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

Rhymes for appellate

• chelate
• pellet
• prelate
• zealot

Kids Definition

appellate

adjective

ap·​pel·​late ə-ˈpel-ət 

: having the power to review the decisions of a lower court

an appellate court

Legal Definition

appellate

adjective

ap·​pel·​late ə-ˈpe-lət 

: of or relating to appeals or the power to hear appeals

the appellate process

an appellate court