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
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
Motoko RichHer 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
Shawn Zeller2
: an earnest request : entreaty
… he begged to sleep with Hareton, and his petition was granted for once.—Emily Brontë
Emily Brontë3
: something asked or requested
petitioned; petitioning
pə-ˈti-sh(ə-)niŋ
; petitions
; 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
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
Norman J. Ornstein 2
intransitive
: to make a request
She neither petitioned for her right nor claimed it.—George Meredith
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
Brian Vickers 
Synonyms
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 WebNicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
The petition called on the university to stop investment in the program, which critics say operates on land previously occupied by Palestinians who have now been displaced by the project.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 4 Apr. 2024
In court filings, Rosen cited the irreversible nature of the death penalty, and thus the inability to guarantee due process, as grounds for the petition.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
The climate impact of using that much of the pesticide, the petition said, was equivalent to the carbon dioxide released from about 1 million vehicles a year.
—Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Ugandan officials deliver a judgment on the consolidated petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Anti-Homosexuality Act in Kampala on Wednesday.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024
In Hawaii, the We the People party qualification petition is facing an objection from the Democratic Party of Hawaii, with a hearing to be held on April 5.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2024
The owner and manager of a cargo ship that rammed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge before the span collapsed last week filed a court petition Monday seeking to limit their legal liability for the deadly disaster.
—Michael Kunzelman, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024
Israeli rights groups submitted a Supreme Court petition to the same end on Feb 24.
—Souad Mekhennet, arkansasonline.com, 28 Mar. 2024
Rebecca Plevin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
When the Justice Department sought to continue its investigation, the association petitioned to block it.
—Aaron Gregg, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Munoz was civilly committed to Coalinga State Hospital for treatment and petitioned to be released under supervision in 2021 — a request Judge Gill granted.
—Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Online court records show that in October 2023, Timmons petitioned for a harassment restraining order against Fuller.
—Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
In November, plaintiffs in the case against Tennessee’s law petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in.
—Colbi Edmonds, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024
Sweden petitioned to join NATO nearly two years ago with Finland, but while the latter quickly gained NATO membership, Hungary and Turkey opposed Sweden’s admission.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2024
An Olathe Northwest High School student’s attempt to start a Satan club has ignited a firestorm in Johnson County, with parents and students petitioning to stop it.
—Sarah Ritter, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
So in 2022, a lawyer representing the nursing home petitioned Kosciusko Superior Court to assign a personal representative, a lawyer and professional guardian Stacy McGuyre, to replace Weyand to control the estate.
—Binghui Huang, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Mar. 2024
Noun
Out of a 35,000 goal, the petition has received over 32,000 signatures as of Friday.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
The petition called on the university to stop investment in the program, which critics say operates on land previously occupied by Palestinians who have now been displaced by the project.
—Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 4 Apr. 2024
In court filings, Rosen cited the irreversible nature of the death penalty, and thus the inability to guarantee due process, as grounds for the petition.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2024
The climate impact of using that much of the pesticide, the petition said, was equivalent to the carbon dioxide released from about 1 million vehicles a year.
—Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Ugandan officials deliver a judgment on the consolidated petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Anti-Homosexuality Act in Kampala on Wednesday.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024
In Hawaii, the We the People party qualification petition is facing an objection from the Democratic Party of Hawaii, with a hearing to be held on April 5.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2024
The owner and manager of a cargo ship that rammed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge before the span collapsed last week filed a court petition Monday seeking to limit their legal liability for the deadly disaster.
—Michael Kunzelman, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024
Israeli rights groups submitted a Supreme Court petition to the same end on Feb 24.
—Souad Mekhennet, arkansasonline.com, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
In 2023, the law was amended to remove the mail-in ballot option and cap the number of work sites that could be petitioned through card check to 75.
—Rebecca Plevin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
When the Justice Department sought to continue its investigation, the association petitioned to block it.
—Aaron Gregg, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Munoz was civilly committed to Coalinga State Hospital for treatment and petitioned to be released under supervision in 2021 — a request Judge Gill granted.
—Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Online court records show that in October 2023, Timmons petitioned for a harassment restraining order against Fuller.
—Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
In November, plaintiffs in the case against Tennessee’s law petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in.
—Colbi Edmonds, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024
Sweden petitioned to join NATO nearly two years ago with Finland, but while the latter quickly gained NATO membership, Hungary and Turkey opposed Sweden’s admission.
—Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2024
An Olathe Northwest High School student’s attempt to start a Satan club has ignited a firestorm in Johnson County, with parents and students petitioning to stop it.
—Sarah Ritter, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024
So in 2022, a lawyer representing the nursing home petitioned Kosciusko Superior Court to assign a personal representative, a lawyer and professional guardian Stacy McGuyre, to replace Weyand to control the estate.
—Binghui Huang, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'petition.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of petition was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing petition
Dictionary Entries Near petition
Cite this Entry
“Petition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petition. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
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
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
: to make a petition
petition for relief
petitioner
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on 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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