# petition

/pəˈtɪʃən/ (US) · /pətˈɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/petition
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a signed request

noun · CEFR B2

a document signed by many people that asks a government or official to do something.

For teachers: a formal written document, typically signed by numerous individuals, requesting a specific action or change from a political or sovereign authority.

- The students started a petition to keep the library open on weekends.
- Local residents submitted a formal petition to the city council, bearing over five thousand signatures in opposition to the proposed highway expansion.

### 2. legal application

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a formal document given to a court to start a legal process, like a divorce.

For teachers: a formal written application submitted to a court or magistrate requesting a specific legal order or the commencement of a lawsuit.

- She filed a petition for divorce after living apart from her husband for a year.
- The legal team prepared a petition for a judicial review, arguing that the previous ruling had overlooked critical environmental evidence.

### 3. a prayer

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

a humble or formal prayer made to a god or a powerful leader.

For teachers: a formal or humble supplication or prayer addressed to a deity or a high-ranking sovereign.

- The monks spent the morning in quiet petition for the safety of the village.
- The ancient text contains several petitions to the gods, asking for a bountiful harvest and protection from the coming winter.

### 4. to make a request

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to officially ask an authority for something, often by using a formal document.

For teachers: to submit a formal request to a government, official body, or court of law.

- The workers decided to petition for better safety equipment in the factory.
- The non-profit organisation intends to petition the government for a change in the tax laws regarding charitable donations.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'for' followed by the desired outcome.

## Examples

- They started a petition to save the local park.
- The neighborhood association submitted a petition with five hundred signatures to protest the new highway construction.
- After the legislative body ignored their initial concerns, the activists organized a nationwide petition to force a public referendum on the environmental protection bill.

---

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.