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

In Monday’s ruling, the appellate judges disagreed. —Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025

The administration turned to the high court after a panel of federal appellate judges declined to block Ali’s ruling. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025

More recently, a California appellate court raised deep concerns earlier this year about yet another murder conviction secured with Tran’s testimony. —Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025

An earlier court had ordered Slaughter reinstated to her commissioner role, and the appellate court declined a bid from the administration to have that decision put on ice. —Niall Stanage, The Hill, 5 Sep. 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