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

At the time, a U.S. appellate court in Philadelphia and a U.S. district judge in Mississippi had both ruled in favor of felons seeking to restore their Second Amendment rights, but the 9th Circuit had not yet made its ruling in the Duarte case. —Alex Riggins, The Mercury News, 16 July 2024

But the appellate court appears to have been unmoved by that motion, granting a request from Steve Sadow, Trump’s lead attorney in the case, for oral arguments a month after Election Day — when Trump will be on the ballot seeking a second term in the White House. —Holly Bailey, Washington Post, 16 July 2024

Trump assassination attempt casts a cloud over what could be Rubio’s brightest moment The Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit would consider any appellate motion filed by Smith. —Michael Wilner, Miami Herald, 15 July 2024

But the appellate court on June 25 ruled the plaintiffs were correct in their assertion that thousands of residents were disenfranchised. —Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 15 July 2024

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

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