affidavit

[af-i-dey-vit]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR affidavit ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Law.

a written declaration upon oath made before an authorized official.

Origin of affidavit

1615–25; < Medieval Latin affīdāvit (he) has declared on oath, perfect 3rd singular of affīdāre; see affiance

Related formspre·af·fi·da·vit, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for affidavit

oath, testimony, affirmation

Examples from the Web for affidavit

Contemporary Examples of affidavit

The FBI raided his home in 2000 with an affidavit questioning his use of $200,000 from his white supremacist fundraising.
The Price of Steve Scalise’s Silence
Jason Berry
January 7, 2015
“The defendant told me he did not want to go back so jail,” the affidavit says.
The Muslim Convert Behind America’s First Workplace Beheading
Michael Daly
September 27, 2014
“He advised me that he did not have his license on him,” Randolph wrote in her affidavit.
The Muslim Convert Behind America’s First Workplace Beheading
Michael Daly
September 27, 2014
“I stopped and yelled on my handheld radio for help,” the affidavit reports.
The Muslim Convert Behind America’s First Workplace Beheading
Michael Daly
September 27, 2014
“[She] had been hemorrhaging since she arrived,” the affidavit notes.
Charged With Murder for a Miscarriage in Oklahoma
Michael Daly
June 19, 2014

Historical Examples of affidavit

The affidavit from the overseer, I think, was not presented.
The Prison Chaplaincy, And Its Experiences
Hosea Quinby
The phrase rounds off a sentence, and nobody treats it like an affidavit.'
Lord Kilgobbin
Charles Lever
One of you get an affidavit from Murphy, telling his whole story.
Spring Street
James H. Richardson
"Sign the affidavit," the agent said and pushed a sheet of paper toward him.
The Stutterer
R.R. Merliss
This warrant had been issued on the affidavit of Mr. Stanton.
History of the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson, President of The United States
Edmund G. Ross

British Dictionary definitions for affidavit

affidavit

noun

law a declaration in writing made upon oath before a person authorized to administer oaths, esp for use as evidence in court

Word Origin for affidavit

C17: from Medieval Latin, literally: he declares on oath, from affīdare to trust (oneself) to; see affiance

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for affidavit

1590s, from Medieval Latin affidavit, literally "he has stated on oath," third person singular perfective of affidare "to trust," from Latin ad- "to" (see ad-) + fidare "to trust," from fidus "faithful," from fides "faith" (see faith). So called from being the first word of sworn statements.