petition
noun [ C ]
uk/pəˈtɪʃən/ us POLITICS
a document signed by a large number of people asking the government or authorities to do something or not to do something:
a petition against/for sth Trade unions have started a petition against the merger.
LAW
a formal letter to a court of law asking for a particular decision:
They had filed a petition in federal court on behalf of the detainees.
See also
bankruptcy petition
petition
verb [ I or T ]
uk/pəˈtɪʃən/ us LAW
to make a formal request for a decision or action, especially from a court of law:
He could have petitioned for the appeals court to consider his request.
The company has petitioned the organization to keep details of the new phone secret.
POLITICS
to sign a document with large numbers of other people asking the government or authorities to do something or not to do something:
petition for/against sth Local people petitioned against the closure of the hospital.