Application
Application: A formal request. In contract law, an application such as an insurance application is usually an offer or a request for an offer, and its statements can become part of the contract. In credit, Regulation B under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act defines an application as an oral or written request for an extension of credit made under the creditor's procedures (12 C.F.R. § 1002.2(f)), and it requires creditors to notify applicants of action taken within set times.
What application means
In short, application is a term you will meet in court papers, rules and legal research. The definition above gives its usual meaning in American civil practice. However, the exact meaning can depend on the rule, statute or court decision that uses it. So it helps to read the term in context.
Where application comes up
The term is used across many kinds of cases. For example, you may see it in pleadings, motions and court orders. To see it in context, browse the motions and procedures library or the Learn the Law topics.
Read the source: Offer.
How to research the term
Start with the primary source. For example, if application appears in a federal rule, read the rule itself and its official notes. After that, check your court’s local rules and any standing orders from the judge. In addition, search recent decisions from your own state or federal district. They show how courts read application in practice. Because state rules often differ, our state procedures guide links to each state’s official rules. Above all, make sure the version you read is still in force.
You can read the current federal court rules online for free.
Related legal terms
- Appeal: a request that a higher court review a lower court's decision for legal error.
- Appearance of impropriety: a standard of judicial ethics.
- Appellant: the party who appeals.
- Appellee: the party responding to an appeal.
Why precise terms matter
Legal words often look like everyday words, but they can carry a precise meaning. Because of that, a small misreading can change how you understand a deadline, a duty or a right. Our glossary keeps each definition short and links it to the procedures where it matters.
Sources
Sources last reviewed: 2026-10-24
Lawtopolis provides legal information and education, not legal advice. Using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and court rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time; verify every authority against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction about your situation.