Meaning & use
right of appeal
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountablelegallawformal
The legal entitlement to ask a higher court or official body to review and change a decision.
Grammar: Often used with 'have' or 'give': have a right of appeal, give someone a right of appeal.
Patterns
- have a right of appeal
- give someone a right of appeal
- a right of appeal against something
The defendant has a right of appeal against the conviction.
The new law gives employees a right of appeal if they are dismissed unfairly.
Without a right of appeal, the decision would be final and unchallengeable.
Word forms
| plural | rights of appeal |
|---|
Common combinations
- have a right of appeal
- You have a right of appeal if your visa is refused.
- give a right of appeal
- The regulations give a right of appeal to anyone affected by the decision.
- exercise a right of appeal
- She decided to exercise her right of appeal within the time limit.
- a right of appeal against a decision
- There is a right of appeal against the planning decision.
Synonyms and how they differ
- right to appeal
- More common in everyday English and often used interchangeably, though 'right of appeal' is more formal and technical.
Word family
Commonly confused: right of appeal or right to appeal?
right of appeal vs right to appeal
Often used in the same way, but 'right to appeal' is less formal and more common in general English.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'right of appeal' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The correct preposition is 'against' when talking about challenging a decision. 'To' is used for the body you appeal to, but here the phrase is 'against the tax office' meaning challenging their decision. 'For' and 'with' are not used in this pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “right of appeal”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.