appellant

1 of 2

adjective

ap·​pel·​lant ə-ˈpe-lənt 

: of or relating to an appeal : appellate

an appellant court

appellant

2 of 2

noun

: one that appeals

specifically : one that appeals from a judicial decision or decree

Examples of appellant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Although the Tax Court’s 2020 opinion considered (and rejected) the argument that the marketing costs allocated to Coca-Cola’s supply points generated CPM-disqualifying intangibles, the investor analogy is more forcefully articulated and far more heavily emphasized in the company’s appellant brief. —Ryan Finley, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025

Sorrells said the appellant court that overturned the conviction picked and chose facts and did not function as an appellant court should. —Noah Alcala Bach, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2024

Noun

Appeals to the City Council now are based only specific points raised by the appellant. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025

Running Scared Another prominent and seemingly novel theme in Coca-Cola’s appellant brief is its allegation that the IRS selectively targeted supply points that had no recourse to mutual agreement procedures under a treaty. —Ryan Finley, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English appellaunt "making a charge in court," borrowed from Anglo-French appellant, appellaunt, present participle of apeler, appeler "to call, summon, call before a court" — more at appeal entry 2

Noun

Middle English appellant, appellaunt "person accusing another in court, plaintiff, challenger," borrowed from Anglo-French appellant, noun derivative of appellant, appellant "making a charge in court" — more at appellant entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for appellant

• libellant
• propellant
• repellant
• repellent

Kids Definition

appellant

noun

ap·​pel·​lant

ə-ˈpel-ənt

: one that appeals

especially : one that appeals a judicial decision

Legal Definition

appellant

noun

ap·​pel·​lant

ə-ˈpe-lənt

: a person or party who appeals a court's judgment compare appellee