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

Newsom had denied a previous decision granting parole to Van Houten but was overruled by an appellate court. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

The end of the appellate ruling lists the acting attorney general and the chief deputy solicitors general, who represented the state, as well as seven individuals and one group, indicating that they were involved in the legal fight. — Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026

The appellate panel took issue with jury instructions that implied the mother's lack of consent could satisfy the unlawfulness element under the federal kidnapping statute. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026

On August 4, 2026, a federal appeals court issued the first federal appellate ruling on an AI agent, and the dispute turned on an HTTP header. — Michael Riedl, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 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