petition
puh-TISH-un
/pəˈtɪʃ.ən/
A formal written request, typically signed by many people, appealing to authority regarding a particular cause; or to make such a formal request.
Connotes a structured, official appeal submitted to an authority, often carrying procedural legal standing.
The story behind the word. From Latin petere, meaning 'to seek' or 'to strive after'. In medieval courts, a petition was a written supplication presented directly to the monarch or chancellor asking for justice or relief outside standard legal codes.
Word relationships
- appeal: A petition is a structured formal document often with signatures, while an appeal can be an urgent emotional or legal plea.
- mandate: A mandate is an official directive or order from authority, whereas a petition is a formal request directed toward authority.
Commonly confused with
- lawsuit: A petition is a formal written request or pleading submitted to an authority or court, while a lawsuit is a broader adversarial court case.
Word family
- petitioner (noun): A person who presents or signs a formal petition to an authority
Collocations
- file a petition
- sign a petition
- petition the court
- online petition
Idioms & expressions
- right to petition
Example sentences
- "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Constitutional text on democratic rights
- "Neighborhood residents organized to petition the municipal council for a safer pedestrian crossing near the primary school." Local civic campaign update
Memory hook
PETITIONers seek to PETITION authority to solve a problem. Formal request with signatures.
When not to use
Avoid using for informal, casual verbal requests between peers.
Fun facts
- In 1848, the British Chartist movement submitted a petition to Parliament containing over five million signatures, delivered in three massive wooden crates.
Related words
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