postulatus

Postulatus is a Latin noun used in classical and medieval Latin. It derives from the verb postulare, meaning to demand or to request. The form postulatus is masculine nominative singular and can function as a substantive meaning the thing demanded or the act of requesting—the petition or formal request itself. A more common noun for the act or document is postulatio (feminine).

In legal and administrative Latin, postulatus often denotes a formal petition, claim, or request presented to an authority such as a ruler, magistrate, or court. In some contexts, the word can also refer to the petitioner or applicant, though this usage is less frequent and usually clarified by context or accompanying descriptors.

In English translations, postulatus is typically rendered as petition, request, application, or demand. The related term postulate in English shares the same Latin root but has acquired a distinct technical sense in philosophy and science. Today, postulatus is mainly of historical or philological interest, appearing chiefly in discussions of Latin texts, legal history, or ecclesiastical documents.