petition

[ puh-tish-uhn ]

/ pəˈtɪʃ ən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR petition 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.

Nearby words

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

SYNONYMS FOR petition

1 suit.

2 entreaty, solicitation, appeal.

9 solicit, sue.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR petition ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

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

Synonym study

9. See appeal.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for petition

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
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
But their petition is far short of the required 50,000 signatures.
Will the Swiss Quit Cooking their Kittens and Puppies?|Barbie Latza Nadeau|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Their expectation was that her petition to have her passport returned might be honored.
Let’s Free Stacey Addison, The Oregon Woman Jailed at the Ends of the Earth|Christopher Dickey|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yet such was their lenity and clemency, that upon a petition from them, the foresaid persons were set at liberty.
Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies)|John Howie
There is a petition of the commons, in the roll of the 4th of Henry IV.
View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages, Vol. 3 (of 3)|Henry Hallam
Neither could the suggestion have been made by one of the minority, because none of them signed the petition to the last.
The Judicial Murder of Mary E. Surratt|David Miller DeWitt
The only result of the petition was the removal of the prince from Falaise to Rouen.
Cassell's History of England, Vol. I (of 9)|Anonymous
"And he will hear your prayer, he will grant your petition," her father replied in moved tones.
Elsie at Viamede|Martha Finley

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 Formspetitionary, 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

Word Origin and History for petition (1 of 2)

petition

early 14c., "a supplication or prayer, especially to a deity," from Old French peticion "request, petition" (12c., Modern French pétition) and directly from Latin petitionem (nominative petitio) "a blow, thrust, attack, aim; a seeking, searching," in law "a claim, suit," noun of action from past participle stem of petere "to make for, go to; attack, assail; seek, strive after; ask for, beg, beseech, request; fetch; derive; demand, require," from PIE root *pet-, also *pete- "to rush; to fly" (cf. Sanskrit pattram "wing, feather, leaf," patara- "flying, fleeting;" Hittite pittar "wing;" Greek piptein "to fall," potamos "rushing water," pteryx "wing;" Old English feðer "feather;" Latin penna "feather, wing;" Old Church Slavonic pero "feather;" Old Welsh eterin "bird"). Meaning "formal written request to a superior (earthly)" is attested from early 15c.

Word Origin and History for petition (1 of 2)

petition

c.1600, from petition (n.). Related: Petitioned; petitioning.

petition

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

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Origin of petition

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Examples from the Web for petition

British Dictionary definitions for petition

petition

noun

verb

Word Origin for petition

Word Origin and History for petition (1 of 2)

petition

Word Origin and History for petition (1 of 2)

petition