petition

1 of 2

noun

pe·​ti·​tion pə-ˈti-shən 

plural petitions

1

a

: a formal written request made to an authority or organized body (such as a court)

filing a petition for divorce

Her defense lawyer had petitioned the court to videotape Scott's testimony about Hearst before he died, but the petition was denied.

—Robert Lipsyte

b

: a written request or call for change signed by many people in support of a shared cause or concern

Hundreds of contributors and readers signed a petition circulated by the National Book Critics Circle, urging the Post to save the stand-alone section.

—Motoko Rich

Her group put together a petition signed by more than 100,000 consumers demanding that regulators crack down on companies who "robocall" consumers using automated dialers and recorded voices to market scams.

—Shawn Zeller

2

: an earnest request : entreaty

… he begged to sleep with Hareton, and his petition was granted for once.

—Emily Brontë

3

: something asked or requested

petitionary

pə-ˈti-shə-ˌner-ē 

adjective

petition

2 of 2

verb

petitioned; petitioning pə-ˈti-sh(ə-)niŋ  ; petitions

1

transitive : to make a request to (someone)

especially : to make a formal written request to (an authority)

His people petitioned the government for permission to use the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

—Taylor Branch

… to adopt "red-flag" laws, which allow police officers and family members to petition a court to bar dangerous individuals from possessing guns.

—Norman J. Ornstein

2

intransitive : to make a request

She neither petitioned for her right nor claimed it.

—George Meredith

especially : to make a formal written request

A year later he moved to Rome and petitioned to join the Jesuits, who gave him a university education and ordained him in 1586.

—Brian Vickers

Synonyms

Noun

• plea
• appeal
• prayer

Verb

• beg

Examples of petition in a Sentence

Noun

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.

Verb

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 on the Web

Noun

Now more than 200 people have signed a petition seeking reinstatement of the class, Matson Tanner said, adding that the community did this entirely on its own. —Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025

Over 17,000 people also signed a petition set up to campaign for her removal from Love Island season 7. —Latoya Gayle, People.com, 7 July 2025

Verb

Dodd petitioned local churches, the YMCA and shopkeepers to observe Father's Day – a Mother's Day counterpart that would celebrate dads. —Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

Letby's lawyers and three former executives at the hospital unsuccessfully petitioned Thirlwall to halt the public inquiry after the medical panel released its findings. —Brian Melley The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 2 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin petition-, petitio, from petere to seek, request — more at feather

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing petition

• counter-petition

Rhymes for petition

• addition
• admission
• ambition
• attrition
• audition
• clinician
• cognition
• coition
• commission
• condition
• contrition
• dentition

Kids Definition

petition

1 of 2 noun

pe·​ti·​tion pə-ˈtish-ən 

1

: an earnest request : entreaty

2

: a formal written request made to a superior or authority

petition

2 of 2 verb

petitioned; petitioning -ˈtish-(ə-)niŋ 

: to make a request to or for

especially : to make a formal written request

petitioner

-(ə-)nər 

noun

Legal Definition

petition

1 of 2 noun

pe·​ti·​tion

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

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to direct a petition to

petition the court

intransitive verb

: to make a petition

petition for relief

petitioner noun