affidavit

American  

[af-i-dey-vit] / ˌæf ɪˈdeɪ vɪt /

noun

Law.

affidavits plural

1. a written declaration upon oath made before an authorized official.

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affidavit British  

/ ˌæfɪˈdeɪvɪt /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preaffidavit
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• affidavits
  plural

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”; see 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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

affidavit affidavits

The affidavit did not say when the report would be made public or disclose any findings related to the crash.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

You could also file a small‑estate affidavit or summary probate, which is often less expensive and faster than the full probate process.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026

The affidavit also stated that it had prepared a transcript of the cockpit voice recorder but didn't reveal more details.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

Santander wrote in her affidavit supporting charges against the couple that she investigated Ma’s claims and learned 11 others had accused Nguyen of a similar grift.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

The other affidavit was from a defense attorney who had extensive experience in state prosecutions.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Bonta said “the affidavits did not identify any specific felony offense the sheriff had probable cause to believe had been committed or that a particular person had committed a felony.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026

“Where we don’t have research, clinical trials, what we’ve got a ton of, is, shall we say, testimonials, patient affidavits, attesting to the wonders of the drug,” said Scott Brunner, the alliance’s chief executive officer.

From Salon ● Apr. 4, 2026

In affidavits submitted to the court, supporters noted that Gil’s was the very last place that was safe and decent and dignified for the city’s worst off.

From Slate ● Mar. 25, 2026

An FBI spokesperson declined to share more information, citing the fact that the affidavits have been sealed by the court.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2026

We had submitted an extensive clemency petition to the governor with affidavits from family members and color photographs, but I didn't expect anything in response.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Related Words

• oath
• testimony