English

appellant

gb/əpˈɛlənt/ us/əpˈɛlənt/
C1 English
Senses
0 senses
Noun legal C1 role
1

Person making a legal appeal

The person or side in a legal case who appeals a court decision.

Usage pattern: [the] appellant; appellant against [a decision/judgment]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse appellant with applicant, who applies for something. The opposite side in an appeal is often called the respondent or appellee, depending on the legal system.
Synonyms
appealer (Much less common and less formal; rarely used in legal writing.) | appellee (Not a synonym; in some systems this is the opposing party, included here only as a common point of confusion.)
Antonyms
respondent (The party responding to an appeal in many legal systems.) | appellee (The party against whom an appeal is brought, especially in U.S. legal usage.)
Collocations
the appellant argued |the appellant claimed |the appellant submitted |the appellant appealed |counsel for the appellant |the appellant's case |the appellant's argument |the appellant's conviction |the successful appellant |the unsuccessful appellant
Themes
law |courts |legal_process
Examples
  • The appellant argued that the trial judge had misdirected the jury.
  • Counsel for the appellant asked the court to overturn the conviction.
  • The court dismissed the appeal and ordered the appellant to pay costs.
Learner examples
  • The appellant wanted the higher court to change the decision.
  • The judge listened to the appellant's lawyer.
Grammar
Dictionary form
appellant
IPA
GB/əpˈɛlənt/
US/əpˈɛlənt/
Syllables & stress
ap - pel - lant (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pel)
Word forms
Noun
  • Base: appellant
  • Plural: appellants
Expressions

appellant's brief

1
/əpˈɛlənts bɹˈif/
fixed phrase legal

Written argument for an appeal

A document where the person appealing explains why the court decision was wrong.

Examples
  • The appellant's brief focused on errors in the judge's instructions to the jury.
  • The court set a deadline for filing the appellant's brief.
  • Her lawyer submitted the appellant's brief two weeks before oral argument.

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