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petition

Syllabification: (pe·ti·tion)

Definition of petition

a formal written request, typically one signed by many people, appealing to authority with respect to a particular cause:she was asked to sign a petition against plans to build on the local playing fields
an appeal or request, especially a solemn or humble one to a deity or a superior.
Law an application to a court for a writ, judicial action in a suit, etc.:a divorce petition

[with object]

make or present a formal request to (an authority) with respect to a particular cause:Americans who moved west petitioned Congress for admission to the Union as states [with object and infinitive]:leaders petitioned the government to hold free elections soon
make a solemn or humble appeal to (a figure of authority):Russell petitioned her father for her hand in marriage
Law make a formal application to (a court) for a writ, judicial action in a suit, etc.:the custodial parent petitioned the court for payment of the arrears [no object]:the process allows both spouses to jointly petition for divorce

Derivatives

Middle English: from Latin petitio(n-), from petit- 'aimed at, sought, laid claim to', from the verb petere

Definition of petition in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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