What does petition mean?
Word: Petition
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Petition means a written appeal to someone in authority, backed by the names of many people, calling for something to be done or changed.
Synonyms: appeal
Word origin: From Latin petitio, from the verb petere.
How do you spell petition?
Syllables: pe - ti - tion
Tricky part: The first vowel is hard to hear, because the stress falls on the second syllable. Pupils often write pitition.
Watch out for: pitition, patition
Memory tip: The first syllable is spelt like pet, the animal kept at home, even though it sounds closer to pit.
Petition in a sentence
Example 1: Leila's petition for more trees along the school drive was signed by nearly every teacher.
Example 2: Over two weeks, the residents collected enough names to fill four pages of the petition.
Example 3: More than a thousand people signed an online petition asking the library to open on Sundays.
Fun Fact
The Latin verb behind petition also gave English the words appetite and compete.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) permission
b) decision
c) petision
d) ignition
Show answer
c) petision. Permission, ignition and decision are right; the signed appeal ends in tion.
Word Champ
Read the statements and choose the correct option:
1. A petition is a paper that many people sign to show they want a change. 2. A partition is a wall or screen that divides a room. 3. An expidition is a long, organised trip, such as one to climb a mountain.
a) only 2 and 3 are true
b) only 1 is true
c) only 1 and 2 are true
d) all three are true
Show answer
c) only 1 and 2 are true. Statement 3 misspells expedition, which has an e after the p.
Back to the Roots
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
Petition comes from the Latin verb petere, which means ___.
a) to seek or ask for
b) to build or shape
c) to hear or listen
d) to carry or bring
Show answer
a) to seek or ask for. Petere meant to seek or ask for, which is exactly what the signers of a petition do.
Sound Check
Which of the following words does not rhyme with petition?
a) ambition
b) tradition
c) admission
d) question
Show answer
d) question. Ambition, tradition and admission all end in the ish-un sound, but question ends in chun.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is the best reason to start a petition?
a) to record a song for a talent show
b) to invite your cousins to a birthday party
c) to keep the score in a cricket match
d) to ask for a safer road crossing near school
Show answer
d) to ask for a safer road crossing near school
2. Where would a petition to keep a local swimming pool open most likely be sent?
a) to the swimming club's coach
b) to the town council
c) to the pool's lifeguards
d) to a local sports shop
Show answer
b) to the town council
