Petition

/pəˈtɪʃ.ən/ · noun

Meaning

A formal written request made by an individual or a group of people to a sovereign or political authority, often containing many signatures, soliciting some grace, right, mercy, or the redress of some wrong or grievance..

Definitions by Sense

1. A formal written request made by an individual or a group of people to a sovereign or political authority, often containing many signatures, soliciting some grace, right, mercy, or the redress of some wrong or grievance.
2. (law, by extension) A formal written application made to a magistrate or court for an order or a suit for divorce.
3. A prayer or supplication, especially of which is formal or humble and made to a deity, a sovereign, or an authority.
4. (transitive) To make a petition to (a sovereign or political authority).

Example Sentences

We're looking to get 10,000 people to sign the petition to have the bird colony given legal protection.

a petition to aid

a petition to God for courage and strength

A house of prayer and petition for thy people.

The villagers petitioned the council to demolish the dangerous building.

The company, appreciating the crippling affect ^([sic]) that this scheme will have on its activities unless the railway is diverted, has petitioned against the North Wales Hydro-Electric Power Bill at present before the House of Lords.

Synonyms for petition

Antonyms for petition

Related Words

Word Forms

• petitions
• petitioning
• petitioned

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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