What does appellant mean?
An appellant is a person who formally appeals — most commonly a party to a legal case who asks a higher court or authority to review and possibly reverse a decision already made. The term belongs firmly to the language of law and formal procedure: when a judgment goes against someone and they choose to contest it, they take on the role of appellant, while the opposing party becomes the appellee or respondent. The word carries no emotional connotation of its own; it is a precise procedural label rather than a description of character. Beyond the courtroom, appellant can occasionally refer more broadly to anyone who lodges an appeal with an authority, but this usage is rare. Its value lies in its exactness — in legal writing, correctly identifying who is the appellant and who is the appellee is essential, since the two roles determine which side must argue and which must respond.
nounA person who appeals, especially a party who appeals to a higher court or authority for a decision to be reversed or reviewed.
- A person who appeals to a higher court or authority to have a decision reviewed or reversed.
- More generally, a person who makes an appeal of any kind.
"The appellant argued that the original verdict had overlooked key evidence."
"After the tribunal rejected her claim, she became the appellant in the case before the higher court."
"The judgment noted that the appellant had failed to submit the required documentation within the deadline."
Used when referring to multiple parties appealing, often jointly in a single case.
"Both appellants filed their briefs before the hearing date."
In every courtroom appeal there are two named rivals — the appellant and the appellee — and mixing them up is one of the most common blunders in legal writing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of appellant
Appellant derives from the Latin appellare, meaning 'to address, entreat, or call upon', via Old French apeler. It entered English in the medieval period alongside the development of formal appellate procedure, retaining the sense of one who 'calls upon' a higher authority. It shares this root with the verb appeal and related words such as repel and compel, all stemming from the Latin pellere family of verbs concerning driving or pushing.
How appellant is actually used
Appellant is almost exclusively used in legal and formal contexts. It names the party initiating an appeal, as opposed to the appellee (US) or respondent (UK), who answers it.
Easily confused with appellant
The appellant is the party who brings the appeal, while the appellee is the party against whom the appeal is brought.
An applicant applies for something such as a job or license, whereas an appellant seeks to overturn or review an existing decision.