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 court’s ruling Thursday reversed that portion of the trial court’s decision. —Claire Wang, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025

Police arrested or ticketed people, many of whom became plaintiffs in a later lawsuit in which an appellate court ruled the curfew didn't violate protesters' First Amendment rights. —Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 11 Sep. 2025

However, days after the injunction order was lifted by the appellate court, vans, buses and heavy-duty trucks could be observed entering the facility. —Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025

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