appealer

An appealer is a person who initiates an appeal of a decision issued by an inferior court, tribunal, administrative agency, or other adjudicatory body. The term is a legitimate, though less common, synonym for the standard legal term appellant. In contemporary practice, the preferred label in most jurisdictions is appellant, with the person filing the appeal identified as the appellant and the appeal itself described as such.

Usage varies by jurisdiction and context. Some statutes, regulatory forms, or historical texts may use “appealer” in place of “appellant,” but in modern formal writing and court documents the word is relatively rare and can sound archaic or informal. In everyday English, the meaning is generally clear, but writers typically favor “appellant” to avoid ambiguity.

Context within legal proceedings usually pairs the appealer with the opposing party, who may be called the appellee, respondent, or defendant, depending on the jurisdiction and the stage of the proceedings. The appealer bears the burden of demonstrating error or legal grounds for reversal or modification of the decision being appealed. The standard of review and procedural rules governing the appeal are determined by the relevant jurisdiction and governing law.

Etymology and usage notes: “appealer” is formed from the verb appeal with the agent suffix -er, mirroring how “appellant” is constructed. While both terms are understandable, “appellant” remains the widely accepted term in formal legal contexts.

Related terms include appeal, appellant, appellee, and appellate procedure.