petition
a formally drawn request, often bearing the names of a number of those making the request, that is addressed to a person or group of persons in authority or power, soliciting some favor, right, mercy, or other benefit: a petition for clemency; a petition for the repeal of an unfair law.
a request made for something desired, especially a respectful or humble request, as to a superior or to one of those in authority; a supplication or prayer: a petition for aid; a petition to God for courage and strength.
something that is sought by request or entreaty: to receive one's full petition.
Law. an application for a court order or for some judicial action.
to beg for or request (something).
to address a formal petition to (a sovereign, a legislative body, etc.): He received everything for which he had petitioned the king.
to ask by petition for (something).
to present a petition.
to address or present a formal petition.
to request or solicit, as by a petition: to petition for redress of grievances.
Origin of petition
1synonym study For petition
Other words for petition
Other words from petition
- pe·ti·tion·a·ble, adjective
- pe·ti·tion·er, pe·ti·tion·ist, noun
- coun·ter·pe·ti·tion, noun, verb
- pre·pe·ti·tion, noun, verb (used with object)
- re-pe·ti·tion, verb (used with object)
- un·pe·ti·tioned, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use petition in a sentence
Thousands of college students have signed petitions to cancel online-proctor deals in California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Texas, Wisconsin and Washington state.
Cheating-detection companies made millions during the pandemic. Now students are fighting back. | Drew Harwell | November 12, 2020 | Washington PostJudge Brenda Penny ruled against immediately removing Britney Spears’s father from the conservatorship of her estate as Spears requested earlier this summer, although she has not ruled out future petitions for his removal or suspension.
Why Britney Spears’s fans are convinced she’s being held captive | Constance Grady | November 11, 2020 | VoxThe petition must be filed within 48 hours of the count’s completion.
How recounts work in Georgia, Wisconsin and other key states | Brittany Shammas, Emma Brown, Jon Swaine | November 6, 2020 | Washington PostStill, she said, the state’s clerks were prepared to conduct a recount if a petition was received to do so.
How a Wisconsin recount would work | Rosalind Helderman, Kim Bellware, Dan Simmons, Peter Kendall | November 4, 2020 | Washington PostI answered a Facebook post and signed a petition, which led to several conversations about pandemic support for folks like me and how to advocate for things like additional stimulus funding from our elected officials.
I’m a Michigander who’s always voted Republican. But the President has failed us | jakemeth | November 1, 2020 | Fortune
Apparently, the population of Kayakoy had petitioned the government in Ankara for the right to remain.
Liberty Counsel, a Christian freedom group challenging the law in court, petitioned the Supreme Court to hear the case.
Last month, the reclusive Matt Sandusky petitioned a court and was granted a name change for himself, his wife and four children.
When the degree of the chaos and corruption became evident, we petitioned the IOC to move the Games before it was too late.
That's when Windsor petitioned the Supreme Court to hear her case on an expedited basis.
They therefore petitioned General McArthur to relieve them temporarily from duty to recuperate their strength.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanAt any rate, they petitioned Parliament for the removal of this too ardent fisherman, and he was sequestered accordingly.
The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries | Charles G. HarperPerrott petitioned for a grant of the cargo, but the owners, who were wholly or partly French, complained to the Queen.
Ireland Under the Tudors, Vol. II (of 3) | Richard BagwellThe reason, then, why the people have not received any word from the Great King, is because they have petitioned the wrong god.
The Kingdom of God, Part 1 | Orson PrattThe House petitioned for their recall in consequence of the language they had used in these letters.
Private Letters of Edward Gibbon (1753-1794) Volume 1 (of 2) | Edward Gibbon
British Dictionary definitions for petition
/ (pɪˈtɪʃən) /
a written document signed by a large number of people demanding some form of action from a government or other authority
any formal request to a higher authority or deity; entreaty
law a formal application in writing made to a court asking for some specific judicial action: a petition for divorce
the action of petitioning
(tr) to address or present a petition to (a person in authority, government, etc): to petition Parliament
(intr foll by for) to seek by petition: to petition for a change in the law
Origin of petition
1Derived forms of petition
- petitionary, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse