An originating application is the first, provisional, or primary application in any legal process, such as a lawsuit, application for a real estate mortgage, patent, or bankruptcy petition.

In Australia, civil court proceedings are usually commenced with the plaintiff filing an originating application.^[1]

In England, it is a term describing the initial bankruptcy petition.^[2] It may also be used in England for administrative appeals.^[3]

In the United States, an originating application is usually reserved for the first form filed to secure a bank loan or mortgage.