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 federal appellate court said Williams had overstepped the law to require testing and supplies at one specific jail, at the expense of others in the county. —Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025

The appellate court's order came around closing time Monday, Day 59 of the review period for the environmental impact statement that would clear the way for the land swap on Day 60. —Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 19 Aug. 2025

All three have strong conservative records, but multiple sources told the Journal Sentinel that the president wanted to nominate someone who is expected to be on the appellate court for decades. —Daniel Bice, jsonline.com, 15 Aug. 2025

The California Supreme Court just overruled the state appellate court in a very important case involving the California Public Utilities Commission. —Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Aug. 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