certiorari

American  

[sur-shee-uh-rair-ahy, -rair-ee] / ˌsɜr ʃi əˈrɛər aɪ, -ˈrɛər i /

noun

Law.

1. a writ issuing from a superior court calling up the record of a proceeding in an inferior court for review.

---

certiorari British  

/ ˌsɜːtɪɔːˈrɛəraɪ /

noun

1. law an order of a superior court directing that a record of proceedings in a lower court be sent up for review See also mandamus prohibition

---

Etymology

Origin of certiorari

First recorded in 1515–25; from Latin: “to be informed, certified,” literally, “made surer,” passive infinitive of certiōrāre “to inform,” verbal derivative of certior, comparative of certus “sure”; so called because the passive infinitive form occurred in the Latin original; see certain

Example Sentences

In a 2024 case in which the Court denied certiorari, Justice Thomas wrote regarding the denial that “In an appropriate future case, we should grant certiorari to address this important question.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025

A denial of certiorari could mean a DC trial before federal district court Judge Tanya Chutkan as early as mid-April.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2024

Known as a petition for certiorari before judgment, such a move to skip the circuit court is rare: The court has allowed it in few cases, though a disproportionate number have been in recent years.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 13, 2023

“The Court should grant certiorari and set a briefing schedule that would permit this case to be argued and resolved as promptly as possible.”

From Seattle Times • Dec. 11, 2023

A petition for certiorari, a request to review a lower court's ruling, is very rarely granted, but I'd known all along that the Supreme Court was our best chance for a stay of execution.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson