appellant

American  

[uh-pel-uhnt] / əˈpɛl ənt /

noun

1. a person who appeals.

2. Law. a party that appeals to a higher tribunal.

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adjective

1. of or relating to an appeal; appellate.

appellant British  

/ əˈpɛlənt /

noun

1. a person who appeals

2. law the party who appeals to a higher court from the decision of a lower tribunal

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adjective

1. law another word for appellate

Etymology

Origin of appellant

1400–50; late Middle English appellaunt < Anglo-French; Old French apelant, present participle of apeler to appeal; see -ant

Compare meaning

How does appellant compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• appellant vs. appellee

Explanation

An appellant is someone who has filed a request asking a judge to change an earlier legal decision. When someone who's been convicted of a crime files an appeal, hoping for a different outcome in a new courtroom, they become an appellant. Usually with the help of an attorney, the appellant submits written arguments in favor of an appeal to a judge. The opposing side does the same, and the judge decides whether or not the case warrants another trial. Appellant is from the French appeller, "make an appeal," and a Latin root meaning "appeal to."

Related Words

• aspirant
• candidate
• claimant
• seeker