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DictionaryappellantParty appealing a court decision
noun / adjective

appellant

uh-PEL-unt/əˈpelənt/

A party asking a higher court to review a court decision.

The appellant hands a case folder to a lawyer outside the higher courthouse.

A white adult appellant hands a case folder to a lawyer outside a higher courthouse.
Etymology
appellFrenchcall upon, appeal
+antFrenchdoing the action

The verb means calling upon an authority, and the participial ending identifies the person doing so. An appellant is specifically the person calling upon a higher court to review a lower court’s decision.

In context

University of Virginia School of Law7:59
I can't give you too much generalization about case names whether the appellant goes first or second and how all this works out.
"How to Read a Case" with UVA Law Professor Anne Coughlin

More examples

  • The judge read the appellant company's brief.
  • Both appellants challenged the lower court's reasoning.
  • The appellant must explain the alleged error.

Forms

appellant · appellants

Similar words

petitioner
Requests court action, not necessarily review of a lower decision.
respondent
The party answering the appeal rather than bringing it.