petition

[ puh-tish-uhn ]

noun

1. 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.

   Synonyms: suit

2. 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.

   Synonyms: appeal, solicitation, entreaty

3. something that is sought by request or entreaty:

   to receive one's full petition.

4. Law. an application for a court order or for some judicial action.

verb (used with object)

1. to beg for or request (something).
2. to address a formal petition to (a sovereign, a legislative body, etc.):

   He received everything for which he had petitioned the king.

3. to ask by petition for (something).

verb (used without object)

1. to present a petition.
2. to address or present a formal petition.

   Synonyms: sue, solicit

3. to request or solicit, as by a petition:

   to petition for redress of grievances.

petition

/ pɪˈtɪʃən /

noun

1. a written document signed by a large number of people demanding some form of action from a government or other authority
2. any formal request to a higher authority or deity; entreaty
3. law a formal application in writing made to a court asking for some specific judicial action

   a petition for divorce

4. the action of petitioning

verb

1. tr to address or present a petition to (a person in authority, government, etc)

   to petition Parliament

2. intrfoll byfor to seek by petition

   to petition for a change in the law

Derived Forms

• peˈtitionary, adjective

Other Words From

• 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of petition¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English peticioun, from Middle French peticion, from Latin petītiōn-, stem of petītiō “an attack, request,” from petīt(us) “assaulted, sought” (past participle of petere “to assault, head for, seek”) + -iō -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of petition¹

C14: from Latin petītiō, from petere to seek

Synonym Study

See appeal.

Example Sentences

Stand up for working momsThere are so many ways to use your voice, and while a phone call to your representatives is among the most powerful, MomsRising makes five-second activism incredibly easy via digital petitions.

From Washington Post

Before she ran for office, Greene circulated a petition to have Pelosi impeached.

From Washington Post

A petition one member posted on the Internet that year drew more than 1,200 signatures, and its Facebook page boasts 1,300 followers, more than twice the number on the Move the Monument page.

From Washington Post

It states that as part of the process, a notice of the name change petition must be published “in a newspaper of general circulation,” in the county where the petitioner resides, unless the court grants a motion to waive this publication requirement.

From Washington Blade

A petition claims the update threatens the country’s security.

From Quartz

A Change.org petition asking A&E to drop the show is already making the rounds online.

From The Daily Beast

A petition has been delivered in Nevada that will put a similar measure to the one in Washington on the ballot in 2016.

From The Daily Beast

It had more petition signatures than any previous Nevada ballot initiative.

From The Daily Beast

Wahlberg filed his petition for a pardon to the governor of Massachusetts on November 26.

From The Daily Beast

The petition, open to any citizen to join, gathered forty thousand signatures in the first three months.

From The Daily Beast

The royal Audiencia has investigated this matter, on petition of the cabildo, in order to refer it to that royal council.

From Project Gutenberg

If he does not inhibit or exclude from his mind the word “Petition” he can make no advance.

From Project Gutenberg

I humbly petition your Majesty to be pleased to order that he be despatched here, so that this so urgent need may be supplied.

From Project Gutenberg

The clerical staff in all the offices had combined and presented a petition in the highest quarter.

From Project Gutenberg

The petition must be signed and properly verified, and may be afterward amended for cause in the interest of justice.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ask
• beg
• beseech
• call upon
• implore
• pray
• seek
• sue
• urge