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

The appellate ruling allows the suit to move forward at the trial court. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 5 Nov. 2026

Before that, Gooden was an appellate attorney who handled hundreds of appeals. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026

New York — New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani secured a significant win Wednesday after a panel of Brooklyn appellate judges ruled his administration can resume plans to collect a new tax on high-end second homes. — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026

Kansas judicial retention races Kansas voters will decide whether to retain judges on the state supreme, appellate and district courts. — Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 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