# appellant

/əˈpɛɫɪnt/ (US) · /ɐpˈɛlənt/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/appellant
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

a person who applies to a higher court to have a decision changed. This is the person who is asking for a second look at their case.

For teachers: a person who applies to a higher court for a review of a previous decision. Often used in legal contexts to distinguish the party seeking a reversal from the respondent.

## Examples

- The appellant asked the court to reconsider the verdict.
- The defense attorney argued that the appellant's rights were violated during the initial trial.
- The higher court granted the appellant's request for a hearing, citing significant procedural errors that had occurred during the original sentencing phase.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.