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

No appellate court at that time reversed any of their convictions, but Jefferson did. . . . —Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2025

Ho articulated this view in a concurring opinion in an appellate ruling in July that supported efforts by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to have state officials block immigrants at the Texas border. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025

If the appellate court upholds the conviction, Andrew's legal options may be exhausted, leaving clemency from Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt or the parole board as her last resort. —Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025

But the appellate court’s remittitur, a technical ruling that returns jurisdiction to the lower court, is not expected to be issued until next month. —Caelyn Pender, The Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2025

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