Appellants are parties who appeal a court decision to a higher court. In law, the term refers to the group or individuals who file an appeal, challenging the outcome below. The word emphasizes the pursuing of appellate review and the procedural status of seeking reversal or modification of a judgment.
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"The appellants argued that the trial court misapplied the law."
"During the hearing, the appellants presented new evidence to support their appeal."
"The judges asked the appellants to clarify the grounds of appeal."
"Both sets of appellants maintained that the ruling violated constitutional rights."
Appellants derives from Old French appellant, from Latin appellāre meaning 'to name, to call upon, appeal to.' The term entered English legal usage by the Middle Ages, originally in ecclesiastical and royal contexts to denote those who call upon a higher authority to review a decision. The spelling with two l’s reflects the French plural suffix -ants, and the pronunciation evolved toward three-syllable pronunciation in English: ap-pell-ants. In early legal Latin records, appellāre signified formal appeal, and by the 14th–16th centuries English diversified it into ‘appellant’ (singular) and ‘appellants’ (plural). The modern sense as a party appealing a judgment is well-established in common law systems and remains in standard dictionaries as the plural form for the party filing an appeal.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "appellants" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "appellants"
-nts sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˌæp.ɪˈlɛnts/ (US/UK/AU). It has three syllables with primary stress on the final syllable: ap-pel-LANTS. Start with a light schwa or short i in the second syllable, then a crisp L sound followed by the final 'ants' with a clear 'æ' to 'ɛ' shift. Use a quick but distinct 't' at the end rather than a glottal stop. Listening to native speech will help: try example sentences like: 'The appellants argue…'
Common errors: 1) Stress misplaced on the second syllable (ap-PELL-ants). 2) Merging 'pell' with a weak 'e' like 'ap-pleh-nts' or overly lengthening the middle vowel. 3) Final '-ants' treated as 'ant' with a hard 't' or a silent 's'. Correction: keep the final stress on '-LENTS' with a stepped onset: /ˌæp.ɪˈlɛnts/. Practice by isolating the final syllable: LANTS, ensure the 'n' and 'ts' are crisp instead of a nasal. Practice with minimal pairs: 'appell' vs 'appellants'.
In US/UK/AU, the onset 'ap-' and middle 'pell' are similar, but rhoticity can influence vowel quality slightly; US often has a crisp /æ/ in the first vowel and a reduced /ɪ/ in the second syllable. UK tends to a slightly tenser /æ/ and may clip the second syllable more quickly. Australian often features a noticeable schwa in the second syllable: /ˌæp.əˈlɛnts/. The final 'ants' stays with a clear /æ/ or /ɛ/ depending on the speaker. Always listen to multiple recordings to anchor the final stress and timing.
The difficulty lies in the three-syllable structure with a late primary stress and the consonant cluster at the end: /-lɛnts/. Many non-native speakers trip over the combination of the 'pell' vowel and the final 'ts' release. The subtle difference between /ɛ/ and /eɪ/ in rapid speech can blur the final syllable. Focus on crisp articulation of /l/ before an aspirated /t/ and a final /s/. Emphasize the final syllable by a small pitch lift and a clear 'nts' release.
A useful tip is to practice the final onset cluster with a quick, almost explosive release: '...lents'. Place your tongue tip against the alveolar ridge for /t/ and use a short, sharp /s/ after releasing /t/. Visualize the word in slow motion: ap- /ə/ or /æ/ depending on speaker, pell /pɛl/, ants /ænts/. Recording yourself helps identify if the final 'nts' is slurred or too soft.
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