petition

[ puh-tish-uhn ]

/ pəˈtɪʃ ən /

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See synonyms for: petition / petitioned / petitioning / petitioner on Thesaurus.com

noun

a formally drawn request, often bearing the names of a number of those making the request, that is addressed to a person or group of persons in authority or power, soliciting some favor, right, mercy, or other benefit: a petition for clemency; a petition for the repeal of an unfair law.

a request made for something desired, especially a respectful or humble request, as to a superior or to one of those in authority; a supplication or prayer: a petition for aid; a petition to God for courage and strength.

something that is sought by request or entreaty: to receive one's full petition.

Law. an application for a court order or for some judicial action.

verb (used with object)

to beg for or request (something).

to address a formal petition to (a sovereign, a legislative body, etc.): He received everything for which he had petitioned the king.

to ask by petition for (something).

verb (used without object)

to present a petition.

to address or present a formal petition.

to request or solicit, as by a petition: to petition for redress of grievances.

OTHER WORDS FOR petition

1 suit.

2 entreaty, solicitation, appeal.

9 solicit, sue.

See synonyms for petition on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of petition

1300–50; Middle English peticioun (<Middle French peticion) <Latin petītiōn- (stem of petītiō) a seeking out, equivalent to petīt(us) (past participle of petere to seek) + -iōn--ion

synonym study for petition

9. See appeal.

OTHER WORDS FROM petition

pe·ti·tion·a·ble, adjectivepe·ti·tion·er, pe·ti·tion·ist, nouncoun·ter·pe·ti·tion, noun, verbpre·pe·ti·tion, noun, verb (used with object)

re-pe·ti·tion, verb (used with object)un·pe·ti·tioned, adjective

Words nearby petition

petite bourgeoise, petite bourgeoisie, petite marmite, petit feu, petit four, petition, petitionary, petitioner, petitio principii, petit jury, petit larceny

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use petition in a sentence

Stand up for working momsThere are so many ways to use your voice, and while a phone call to your representatives is among the most powerful, MomsRising makes five-second activism incredibly easy via digital petitions.
Why working moms deserve a tantrum (and how to survive the remainder of the pandemic)|Christine Koh|February 1, 2021|Washington Post
Before she ran for office, Greene circulated a petition to have Pelosi impeached.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s endorsement of conspiracy theories, violence sparks calls for her resignation — again|Reis Thebault|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
A petition one member posted on the Internet that year drew more than 1,200 signatures, and its Facebook page boasts 1,300 followers, more than twice the number on the Move the Monument page.
Activists promise to continue fight against ‘Talbot Boys’ Confederate monument|Jonathan M. Pitts|January 20, 2021|Washington Post
It states that as part of the process, a notice of the name change petition must be published “in a newspaper of general circulation,” in the county where the petitioner resides, unless the court grants a motion to waive this publication requirement.
Maryland name change bill reintroduced|Philip Van Slooten|January 18, 2021|Washington Blade

A petition claims the update threatens the country’s security.
WhatsApp legal challenge, Covid-19 infection rate, cryptocurrency astrology|Jordan Lebeau|January 14, 2021|Quartz
A Change.org petition asking A&E to drop the show is already making the rounds online.
To Catch a Sex Worker: A&E’s Awful, Exploitative Ambush Show|Samantha Allen|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A petition has been delivered in Nevada that will put a similar measure to the one in Washington on the ballot in 2016.
The Gun Battle Since Newtown|Cliff Schecter|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It had more petition signatures than any previous Nevada ballot initiative.
The Gun Battle Since Newtown|Cliff Schecter|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Wahlberg filed his petition for a pardon to the governor of Massachusetts on November 26.
LAPD Foundation: Mark Wahlberg Would Make a Good Reserve Cop|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The petition, open to any citizen to join, gathered forty thousand signatures in the first three months.
How Havel Inspired the Velvet Revolution|Michael Zantovsky|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The royal Audiencia has investigated this matter, on petition of the cabildo, in order to refer it to that royal council.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
If he does not inhibit or exclude from his mind the word “Petition” he can make no advance.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
I humbly petition your Majesty to be pleased to order that he be despatched here, so that this so urgent need may be supplied.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
The clerical staff in all the offices had combined and presented a petition in the highest quarter.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
The petition must be signed and properly verified, and may be afterward amended for cause in the interest of justice.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles

British Dictionary definitions for petition

petition

/ (pɪˈtɪʃən) /

noun

a written document signed by a large number of people demanding some form of action from a government or other authority

any formal request to a higher authority or deity; entreaty

law a formal application in writing made to a court asking for some specific judicial actiona petition for divorce

the action of petitioning

verb

(tr) to address or present a petition to (a person in authority, government, etc)to petition Parliament

(intr foll by for) to seek by petitionto petition for a change in the law

Derived forms of petition

petitionary, adjective

Word Origin for petition

C14: from Latin petītiō, from petere to seek

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

petition

OTHER WORDS FOR petition

Origin of petition

synonym study for petition

OTHER WORDS FROM petition

Words nearby petition

Words related to petition

How to use petition in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for petition

Derived forms of petition

Word Origin for petition