affidavit

[ af-i-dey-vit ]

/ ˌæf ɪˈdeɪ vɪt /

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noun Law.

a written declaration upon oath made before an authorized official.

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Origin of affidavit

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

OTHER WORDS FROM affidavit

pre·af·fi·da·vit, noun

Words nearby affidavit

affiance, affianced, affiant, affiche, afficionado, affidavit, affiliate, affiliated, affiliation, affiliation order, affiliation proceedings

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use affidavit in a sentence

According to a police affidavit obtained by The Washington Post, Fred Farmer’s cellphone was never in the woods.
An Indiana man never returned from a hunting trip. Strange texts and emojis led police to his son.|Katie Shepherd|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
All five in the Kansas City group wore pieces of orange tape on their headgear or backpacks, the affidavit alleged, and rolls of tape were carried at one point by Kuehne.
Five more charged in Capitol riot allegedly teamed with Kansas City Proud Boys|Spencer Hsu, Rachel Weiner|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
Nordean later continued, “The police are starting to become a problem,” adding in frustration, “we’ve had their back for years,” the affidavit charged.
Proud Boys may have planned Capitol breach to retaliate against police for member stabbed at earlier march, FBI alleges|Spencer Hsu|February 4, 2021|Washington Post
While the FBI wrote in the affidavit that Williams appeared to have fled, Ulrich said a police officer investigating the former boyfriend’s alleged abuse directed her to change the number.
Judge chides suspected Pelosi laptop thief: ‘The Constitution prevails here today’|Amy Worden, Marisa Iati|January 21, 2021|Washington Post

They are taking very little evidence, creating false affidavits … ignoring all of the collections attempts that have happened for the past six to eight years.
Student loan companies return to court to collect on private education debt|Danielle Douglas-Gabriel|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
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|DAILY BEAST
But because he is still a practicing pastor, his name was instead blocked from her publicized affidavit.
How Sicko Priests Got Away With It|Barbie Latza Nadeau|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“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|DAILY BEAST
“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|DAILY BEAST
“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|DAILY BEAST
The doctor who had attended his wife during her confinement was indisposed, and was represented only by an affidavit.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
I got his affidavit, and we parted the best of friends, he urging me to call at his shanty and see Mary Jane and the kids.
The Cromptons|Mary J. Holmes
There is one very obscure part in this statement, namely, the reference to the former affidavit and the matter of the bedstaff.
A Thin Ghost and Others|M. R. (Montague Rhodes) James
"Sign the affidavit," the agent said and pushed a sheet of paper toward him.
The Stutterer|R.R. Merliss
He denied having made a demand of two thousand guineas; but the Rev. Mr. Foster contradicted him in an affidavit.
The Chronicles of Crime or The New Newgate Calendar. v. 1/2|Camden Pelham

British Dictionary definitions for affidavit

affidavit

/ (ˌæfɪˈdeɪvɪt) /

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

affidavit

Origin of affidavit

OTHER WORDS FROM affidavit

Words nearby affidavit

Words related to affidavit

How to use affidavit in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for affidavit

Word Origin for affidavit