affidavit
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
- preaffidavit noun
Etymology
Origin of affidavit
First recorded in 1615–25; from Medieval Latin affīdāvit “(he) has declared on oath,” 3rd-person singular perfect of affīdāre “to declare an oath”; affiance
Explanation
If you make a written statement to the police or another recognized authority like a notary public that you swear is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, what you've put down on paper is an affidavit. We get the noun affidavit from the Latin affidare, which means "to pledge." When you state something in an affidavit, you're pledging to the powers that be that you're not lying. The word usually appears in legal settings; if you watch a lot of cop shows or courtroom dramas, it probably rings a bell. "According to the affidavit, Mrs. Smith told police she found the burglar in her closet wearing her most expensive pair of shoes."
Vocabulary lists containing affidavit
The Crucible
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Tangerine
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Unbroken
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
According to a police affidavit, Ortiz had been dating Hatley and Cynthia at the same time.
From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026
According to a police affidavit, Hatley said that she and Ortiz were soulmates and that he would never be rid of her.
From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026
The truck was spotted in Globe again at 11:41 p.m., according to the affidavit.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
During an interview at the scene of the crash, Woods was "sweating profusely" and his movements were "lethargic and slow", an officer wrote in the arrest affidavit released on Tuesday.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
“And here I have a notarized affidavit from Sergeant Whitcomb in which he states that he knew the tomato was hot just from the way you tried to unload it on him.”
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
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.
