Definition of petition
1 : an earnest request : entreaty
2a : a formal written request made to an official person or organized body (such as a court)b : a document embodying such a formal written request
3 : something asked or requested
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Examples of petition in a Sentence
They collected 2,000 signatures on a petition demanding that women be allowed to join the club.
Would you like to sign our petition?
We presented a petition to the legislature to change the law.
She filed a petition for divorce.
We ask you to hear our petition.
Recent Examples of petition from the Web
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Mr López is looking for a sympathetic councillor to present the petition on the anniversary of Guevara’s death.
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Suh's prior appeals, post-conviction petitions and a 2003 clemency bid all were unsuccessful.
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The startup is adding a feature to its app Wednesday that points people toward an online petition in favor of net neutrality.
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After Barkai rejected their petition, the human rights organizations appealed the case to the country's Supreme Court.
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But most of the attendees signed a petition telling the developers goodbye.
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McGrady initiated a petition drive on his own to bring the changes to referendum.
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A parent petition urging the park board to ban vaccinated children from attending their parks?
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Halie Rebeccaschild is the secretary of the political action committee Loveland Community Heartbeat, the group behind the petition drive to recall the mayor.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'petition.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of petition
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin petition-, petitio, from petere to seek, request — more at feather
Examples of petition in a Sentence
The organization petitioned the government to investigate the issue.
All people had the right to petition the king for help.
She petitioned to join their club.
Recent Examples of petition from the Web
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Three months later, Arthur died, and Jim petitioned to be listed as the surviving spouse on his death certificate.
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In March, a group of advocacy organizations, led by the Natural Resources Defense Council, petitioned the EPA to provide water filters and bottled water to residents throughout East Chicago.
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Having this ability for a grandparent to petition the court and have the court make a judgment based on what's in the best interest of the child is a prudent step,'' France said.
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The flexible term, used recently to describe college students who have petitioned or protested their colleges demanding sensitivity.
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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A white supremacist sentenced to death for killing nine worshippers in a racist attack at a Charleston church has petitioned an appeals court for mercy.
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A final order of forfeiture is issued, and then victims can petition the Department of Justice to have forfeited money applied toward restitution.
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While no explicit reason for the denial was given, Roberts took care to note the lengthy legal wrangling in the state over just who was authorized to petition the Court.
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The territory’s oversight board, which was created to help resolve the fiscal crisis, unanimously approved a measure that allows it to hold executive sessions to consider petitioning a court to cut Puerto Rico’s obligations.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'petition.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of petition
1607
PETITION Defined for English Language Learners
petition
Definition of petition for English Language Learners
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: to ask (a person, group, or organization) for something in a formal way
PETITION Defined for Kids
Definition of petition for Students
1 : an earnest appeal
2 : a formal written request made to an authority
Definition of petition for Students
petitioned
;petitioning
: to make an often formal request to or for
petitioner
nounLaw Dictionary
petition
Legal Definition of petition
1 : a formal written request made to an official person or body (as a court or board) a petition for equitable relief the creditor filed a petition for involuntary bankruptcy
2 : a document embodying a formal written request
petition
Legal Definition of petition
: to direct a petition to petition the court
intransitive verb
petitioner
nounLearn More about petition
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See words that rhyme with petition Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for petition Spanish Central: Translation of petition Nglish: Translation of petition for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of petition for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about petition
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