appellant

1 of 2

adjective

ap·​pel·​lant ə-ˈpe-lənt 

: of or relating to an appeal : appellate

an appellant court

appellant

2 of 2

noun

: one that appeals

specifically : one that appeals from a judicial decision or decree

Examples of appellant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Sorrells said the appellant court that overturned the conviction picked and chose facts and did not function as an appellant court should. —Noah Alcala Bach, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2024

Click here to read appellant arguments over then-Judge Boynton’s key rulings in Jones’s trial and here for the state’s response. —Dan Morse, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2023

Noun

In April, Lee’s attorneys submitted an appellant’s brief along with 17 supporting briefs, including one from Gov. Josh Shapiro, arguing that Lee’s sentence is unconstitutional. —Lauren Jessop | The Center Square Contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Oct. 2024

Those media companies are now appellants in a proceeding before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English appellaunt "making a charge in court," borrowed from Anglo-French appellant, appellaunt, present participle of apeler, appeler "to call, summon, call before a court" — more at appeal entry 2

Noun

Middle English appellant, appellaunt "person accusing another in court, plaintiff, challenger," borrowed from Anglo-French appellant, noun derivative of appellant, appellant "making a charge in court" — more at appellant entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

appellant

noun

ap·​pel·​lant

ə-ˈpel-ənt

: one that appeals

especially : one that appeals a judicial decision

Legal Definition

appellant

noun

ap·​pel·​lant

ə-ˈpe-lənt

: a person or party who appeals a court's judgment compare appellee