deposition

[dep-uh-zish-uhn, dee-puh-]

noun

1. removal from an office or position.

2. the act or process of depositing.

   deposition of the documents with the Library of Congress.

3. the state of being deposited or precipitated.

   deposition of soil at the mouth of a river.

4. something that is deposited.

5. Law.

   1. the giving of testimony under oath.

   2. the testimony so given.

   3. a statement under oath, taken down in writing, to be used in court in place of the spoken testimony of the witness.

6. Ecclesiastical.

   1. the interment of the body of a saint.

   2. the reinterment of the body or the relics of a saint.

7. (initial capital letter),  a work of art depicting Christ being lowered from the Cross.

deposition

¹

/ ˌdiːpə-, ˌdɛpəˈzɪʃən /

noun

1. law

   1. the giving of testimony on oath

   2. the testimony so given

   3. the sworn statement of a witness used in court in his absence

2. the act or instance of deposing

3. the act or an instance of depositing

4. something that is deposited; deposit

Deposition

²

/ ˌdiːpə-, ˌdɛpəˈzɪʃən /

noun

1. the taking down of Christ's body from the Cross or a representation of this

deposition

1. The accumulation or laying down of matter by a natural process, as the laying down of sediments in a river or the accumulation of mineral deposits in a bodily organ.

2. The process of changing from a gas to a solid without passing through an intermediate liquid phase. Carbon dioxide, at a pressure of one atmosphere, undergoes deposition at about −78 degrees Celsius.

3. Compare sublimation

Other Word Forms

• depositional adjective
• postdepositional adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of deposition¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin dēpositiōn-, stem of dēpositiō “a putting aside, testimony, burial,” equivalent to Latin dēposit(us) “laid down” ( deposit ) + -iō -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of deposition¹

C14: from Late Latin dēpositiō a laying down, disposal, burying, testimony

Example Sentences

Traditionally, diamond production involves converting carbon at enormous pressures and temperatures, where the diamond form is stable, or by using chemical vapor deposition, where it is not.

Read more on Science Daily

Theodora also pointed out discrepancies in her testimony compared to what she said in her deposition several months ago.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The group supplies tools, mostly for the deposition of thin films, that let chip makers create increasingly powerful semiconductors needed for artificial-intelligence applications.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The government will have to produce documents and witnesses for deposition relating to around 15 raids, in addition to general operational information.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

More than 75 names are on the witness list, including current Angels star Mike Trout, former manager Mike Scioscia and several former players who testified in depositions that Kay or Skaggs gave them opioids.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• affidavit 
• allegation 
• announcement 
• evidence 
• testimony