affidavit

[ af-i-dey-vit ]
See synonyms for affidavit on Thesaurus.com
nounLaw.
  1. a written declaration upon oath made before an authorized official.

Origin of affidavit

1
First recorded in 1615–25; from Medieval Latin affīdāvit “(he) has declared on oath,” perfect third-person singular of affīdāre; see affiance

Other words from affidavit

  • pre·af·fi·da·vit, noun

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

How to use affidavit in a sentence

  • Holding the affidavits which they were foolish enough to give him, Hatch can make them swear to anything he pleases.

    The Wreckers | Francis Lynde
  • And the Brownes have been here; I find their affidavits on the table.

    Jane Austen, Her Life and Letters | William Austen-Leigh and Richard Arthur Austen-Leigh
  • Affidavits as to the ownership of a portion of the money in the hands of Messrs. Darragh and Kennedy filed.

    The Old Pike | Thomas B. Searight
  • Affidavits were sent out to England to prove that he was a fit subject to be transported for "trial" there.

British Dictionary definitions for affidavit

affidavit

/ (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

Origin of affidavit

1
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