petition

noun

/pəˈtɪʃn/

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a written document signed by a large number of people that asks somebody in a position of authority to do or change something
- petition against something Would you like to sign our petition against experiments on animals?
- petition for something The workers are getting up (= starting) a petition for tighter safety standards.
- to present/deliver a petition
- to start/launch a petition
- Councillors were presented with a petition calling for more money to be spent on policing the area.
Extra Examples
- Local government supports the petition for a new hospital.
- The company had actively circulated petitions to get rid of the union.
- The petition opposes the closures.
- The petition supports the plan to rebuild the road.
- The players drew up a petition and presented it to the coach.
- They delivered petitions with nearly 20 000 signatures to the Senate.
- They've threatened to get up a petition against the plan.
- Two million people signed the recall petition.
- We're getting up a petition against the proposed building plans.
- We've started an online petition.
- a petition asking him to reconsider
- a petition by local residents
- a petition in favour of reform
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- protest
- online
- nominating
- …
verb + petition
- sign
- draft
- launch
- …
petition + verb
- ask something
- ask for something
- call for something
- …
preposition
- petition against
- petition by
- petition from
- …
See full entry
(law) an official document asking a court to take a particular course of action
- a bankruptcy petition
- petition for something Her husband has already filed a petition for divorce.
Extra Examples
- a divorce petition on behalf of Terri Jones
- The petition will be heard tomorrow.
- The district court has opposed the petition by the local electricity company.
- The deadline for filing nominating petitions for the primary election was Tuesday.
- She filed a habeas corpus petition on Padilla's behalf.
- Her petition for divorce was granted.
- He can file a petition for writ of habeas corpus.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- court
- bankruptcy
- divorce
- …
verb + petition
- file
- submit
- hear
- …
preposition
- petition for
- petition on behalf of
See full entry
(formal) a formal prayer to God or request to somebody in authority

Word OriginMiddle English: from Latin petitio(n-), from petit- ‘aimed at, sought, laid claim to’, from the verb petere.

petition

verb

/pəˈtɪʃn/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they petition	/pəˈtɪʃn/ /pəˈtɪʃn/
he / she / it petitions	/pəˈtɪʃnz/ /pəˈtɪʃnz/
past simple petitioned	/pəˈtɪʃnd/ /pəˈtɪʃnd/
past participle petitioned	/pəˈtɪʃnd/ /pəˈtɪʃnd/
-ing form petitioning	/pəˈtɪʃnɪŋ/ /pəˈtɪʃnɪŋ/

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[intransitive, transitive] to make a formal request to somebody in authority, especially by sending them a petition
- petition for/against something Local residents have successfully petitioned against the siting of a prison in their area.
- petition somebody/something (for something) The group intends to petition Parliament for reform of the law.
- petition somebody/something to do something Parents petitioned the school to review its admission policy.
[intransitive, transitive] to formally ask for something in court
- petition for something His wife petitioned for divorce in 1997.
- petition somebody/something (for something) He petitioned the court for a new trial.
- petition somebody/something to do something She petitioned the judge to restore her licence.

Word OriginMiddle English: from Latin petitio(n-), from petit- ‘aimed at, sought, laid claim to’, from the verb petere.