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

Since the appellate court removed it, the lawsuit has been stagnant. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 10 July 2026

The ruling from the conservative appellate court is 52 pages of Whomp. — Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2026

The decision contradicts another, earlier, appellate ruling that New Jersey’s gambling laws don’t trump the authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. — Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 9 July 2026

In a unanimous decision issued July 2, a three-judge appellate panel dismissed the Crown’s appeal, leaving in place a lower court ruling that stayed the proceedings. — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 9 July 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