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

Trump posted on Truth Social about the former federal appellate court clerk and Princeton University and Harvard Law School graduate. — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026

That arrest ended with another officer (who is named alongside Wilson in the appellate case) hitting one of the employees 17 times. — Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2026

The appellate court’s ruling focused on one particular procedural issue during the jury selection portion of Robinson’s trial. — Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026

In a 2-1 decision earlier this month, the appellate court affirmed that the president needed congressional approval. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026

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