Perjury
noun /ˈpɜːr.dʒər.i/ — The criminal act of lying under oath.
Definition
The criminal offense of willfully making false statements while under oath to tell the truth — in court, in depositions, or in other legal proceedings. Perjury is considered a serious offense because it corrupts the legal process that depends on honest testimony.
Beyond the definition
Perjury is the lie with the most formal consequences — the lie taken when the stakes are highest, when the oath was taken with your hand raised and your future in the balance.
Origin & history
From Latin 'periurium' (false oath); from 'per-' (thoroughly) + 'iurare' (to swear). Literally: a thoroughly sworn lie — the oath itself weaponized.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Perjury is notoriously difficult to prosecute — proving someone lied under oath requires proving they knew the truth.
He had given three versions of the story before he was reminded he was under oath — the fourth was much shorter.
She told the truth when a lie might have saved her — and told the lie when the truth would have cost nothing. The logic of crisis.
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 “Perjury” when the meaning fits your context: The criminal offense of willfully making false statements while under oath to tell the truth — in court, in depositions, or in other legal proceedings. Perjury is considered a serious offense because it corrupts the legal process that depends on honest testimony.
Synonyms
false testimony, lying under oath, forswearing
Antonyms
testimony, truth-telling
Related words
Perjury vs false swearing
Perjury is the specific crime of lying under oath in a legal proceeding. False swearing is a broader term that may include lying under oath outside of official court proceedings.
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
Adults Having Heated Disagreement
Two adults disagree heatedly at a table, with one making angry gestures and the other raising a hand to demand a pause.
Perjury is willfully making false statements under oath. The intense, adversarial interaction highlights the high stakes where testimony is essential, representing the corruptive force of dishonesty on the legal process.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Perjury" mean?
Perjury is noun meaning: The criminal act of lying under oath.. The criminal offense of willfully making false statements while under oath to tell the truth — in court, in depositions, or in other legal proceedings. Perjury is considered a serious offense because it corrupts the legal process that depends on honest testimony.
Where does the word "Perjury" come from?
From Latin 'periurium' (false oath); from 'per-' (thoroughly) + 'iurare' (to swear). Literally: a thoroughly sworn lie — the oath itself weaponized.