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 opinion also noted that while a handful of appellate courts have sided with the administration, most federal trial courts examining the issue have ruled the opposite way. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 28 Apr. 2026

In recent years, the state Supreme Court has agreed to review multiple high-profile cases from Santa Clara County where prosecutors challenged an appellate court’s reversal of an initial conviction. —Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026

Last year, an appellate court overturned the president’s invocation of wartime authorities to expedite the deportation of Venezuelans on the sensible grounds that Venezuela was not, in fact, invading the United States. —Gregg Nunziata, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026

Now an appellate judge, Miller sent a series of texts to Rundle, her former boss, as the resentencing in the death penalty case began to unravel. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 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