Affidavit
noun /ˌæf.ɪˈdeɪ.vɪt/ — A written statement confirmed by oath, used as evidence in court.
Definition
A written statement made under oath or affirmation, submitted to a court as evidence. The person making it swears to its truth before an authorized officer. Perjury in an affidavit carries the same consequences as lying under oath in court.
Beyond the definition
An affidavit is the legal system's attempt to make honesty obligatory — to attach consequences to what a person says they know. It is truth with a price tag.
Origin & history
Medieval Latin: 'he/she has stated on oath'; from 'affidare' (to trust, to pledge faith); from 'ad-' (to) + 'fidare' (to trust). Literally: 'he/she has pledged faith'.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Her affidavit detailed the events of that evening in three pages — facts, times, sequence — sworn before a notary.
An affidavit can be submitted when a witness cannot appear in court — but it carries less weight than live testimony.
He signed the affidavit knowing it was only partly true, and lived with that choice for the rest of the trial.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Affidavit” when the meaning fits your context: A written statement made under oath or affirmation, submitted to a court as evidence. The person making it swears to its truth before an authorized officer. Perjury in an affidavit carries the same consequences as lying under oath in court.
Synonyms
sworn statement, deposition, declaration
Related words
Affidavit vs deposition
An affidavit is a written, sworn statement usually prepared out of court. A deposition involves oral testimony given under oath during discovery, subject to cross-examination.
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Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Adult Holding Document In Court
An adult stands in a wood-paneled courtroom, holding a single document, reflecting the formality of sworn evidence.
An affidavit is a written statement made under oath. Holding the document in the courtroom emphasizes its weight as sworn evidence, where the commitment to truth is the legal foundation for the proceedings.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Affidavit" mean?
Affidavit is noun meaning: A written statement confirmed by oath, used as evidence in court.. A written statement made under oath or affirmation, submitted to a court as evidence. The person making it swears to its truth before an authorized officer. Perjury in an affidavit carries the same consequences as lying under oath in court.
Where does the word "Affidavit" come from?
Medieval Latin: 'he/she has stated on oath'; from 'affidare' (to trust, to pledge faith); from 'ad-' (to) + 'fidare' (to trust). Literally: 'he/she has pledged faith'.