perjure
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
perjuresimple
-
perjuressimple
-
have perjuredperfect
-
has perjuredperfect
-
am perjuringprogressive
-
are perjuringprogressive
-
is perjuringprogressive
-
have been perjuringperfect progressive
-
has been perjuringperfect progressive
Past
-
perjuredsimple
-
had perjuredperfect
-
was perjuringprogressive
-
were perjuringprogressive
-
had been perjuringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of perjure
First recorded in 1475–85; from Latin perjūrāre “to swear falsely,” from per- “through,” i.e., “beyond the limits” ( see per-) + jūrāre “to swear,” literally, “to be at law” (derivative of jūs jus 1 ( def. ) )
Explanation
To perjure is to lie after taking an oath in a courtroom to tell the truth. If a witness to a crime deliberately gives false information in front of a judge, they perjure themselves. It's possible to perjure yourself — or commit the crime of perjury — in a written statement or during any other legal transaction that requires you to swear you'll tell the truth. You only perjure yourself, however, if you tell a deliberate lie that affects the outcome of a trial or other legal decision. The Old French source of the word perjure is parjurer, "to break one's word," from the Latin root periurare, "to swear falsely."
Vocabulary lists containing perjure
Just Mercy
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The Left Hand of Darkness
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"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act III
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“He specifically told me, ‘I don’t want you to perjure yourself, but "I don’t recall" isn’t perjury.
From Washington Post • Dec. 23, 2022
She said the letters were part of a plan by Ms. Toebbe to pressure her husband to perjure himself by falsely saying she knew nothing about the plot.
From New York Times • Nov. 9, 2022
Jones on Tuesday called Bellis a tyrant and said she would be forcing him to perjure himself and say “that I’m guilty and to say that I’m a liar.”
From Seattle Times • Sep. 21, 2022
One of those who testified against him in court has since told the BBC that it is "utterly absurd" to suggest nine women would perjure themselves as part of a political plot.
From BBC • Feb. 25, 2021
Much, therefore, as I may like you, Nigel Harding, you know I cannot perjure myself.
From The Finger of Fate A Romance by Reid, Mayne
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
