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

Notably, unlike an American appellate court where the judges frequently interject with questions, the ICJ is withholding questions until the end. —Jon McGowan, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024

Plaintiffs appealed the decision, and the case is now before an appellate court. —Haley Bemiller, The Enquirer, 27 Nov. 2024

Republicans consented to accelerate the consideration of district court judicial nominees and Democrats agreed to not hold votes for four of the president’s appellate court nominees. —Tara Suter, The Hill, 27 Nov. 2024

Leroy said the appellate courts will consider decisions made during the trial, state law and the humanity of the death penalty. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024

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

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