Appello

Appello is a masculine Italian noun with several related meanings centered on calling, appealing, or addressing. It derives from the Latin appellare, meaning to call upon or address. In general use, an appello can denote a formal request or plea addressed to an individual or authority, such as a charitable appeal or a public call for support. The term can also refer more broadly to any appeal to opinion, emotion, or action.

In legal contexts, appello refers to the process of appealing a court decision to a higher authority. In Italy and many civil-law systems, a judgment can be challenged by filing an appello, with the Court of Appeal (Corte d’Appello) serving as the second instance. The appellate court re-examines the decision, typically on grounds of law and, depending on the jurisdiction, may review certain aspects of the facts as well. The outcome of an appello can include reversal, modification, or confirmation of the original ruling. The term is distinct from ricorso, a broader term for filing a petition or request, and from cassazione, the process of appealing to the highest court for a question of law.

Rhetorically and in everyday speech, appello also denotes an appeal to an audience or to a particular value or emotion. Phrases such as “un appello al pubblico” or “un appello al buonsenso” are common, illustrating its broader use beyond legal prose.

Related terms include appellare (to appeal or call), appello itself as a legal action, and appellazione in some contexts meaning designation or naming.