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

California immediately filed suit against the deployment, but two initial court rulings in the state’s favor were quickly overturned by an appellate court. —Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2025

In 2024, the same appellate department unanimously reversed a similar decision by Walsh, who had refused a family’s request to seal name change records for their 13-year-old trans child. —Samantha Riedel, Them., 3 Nov. 2025

An appellate court heard arguments on Monday regarding Habba’s appointment. —Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025

The estate will have an opportunity to oppose the new appellate brief before a possible hearing and decision from a panel of judges that could take many months. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025

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