petition

/pəˈtɪʃən/

noun

  1. A formal written request signed by many people and sent to an authority.

    B1

    countable

    • "Students started a petition to improve the school cafeteria."B1
    • "More than 10,000 residents signed the petition against the proposed development."B2

  2. A formal request made to a court or other official body.

    B2

    countableformal

    • "The lawyer filed a petition with the court."B2
    • "The petition seeks permission to challenge the government's decision."C1

verb

  1. To make a formal request to an authority, especially in writing.

    B2

    transitive; petition someone to do something; petition someone for somethingformal

    • "The workers petitioned the mayor for better public transport."B2
    • "Residents petitioned the council to reject the construction plan."C1

  2. To make a formal request to a court.

    C1

    transitive; petition the court for somethinglegal

    • "She petitioned the court for custody of her children."C1
    • "The company petitioned the court to overturn the ruling."C2

Common mistakes

  • petition about the government→petition the government

    Use petition someone or petition someone for something, not usually petition about someone.

Collocations

sign a petitionstart a petitionfile a petitiononline petitionpetition the court

Word family

petitionerpetitioningpetitionary