oath

American  

[ohth] / oʊθ /

noun

• oaths
  plural

1. 

   a solemn appeal to a deity, or to some revered person or thing, to witness one's determination to speak the truth, to keep a promise, etc..

   to testify upon oath.

2. a statement or promise strengthened by such an appeal.

   Synonyms:

   pledge, vow

3. a formally affirmed statement or promise accepted as an equivalent of an appeal to a deity or to a revered person or thing; affirmation.

4. the form of words in which such a statement or promise is made.

5. an irreverent or blasphemous use of the name of God or anything sacred.

   Synonyms:

   profanity

6. any profane expression; curse; swear word.

   He slammed the door with a muttered oath.

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idioms

1. take an oath, to swear solemnly; vow.

oath British  

/ əʊθ /

noun

1. a solemn pronouncement to affirm the truth of a statement or to pledge a person to some course of action, often involving a sacred being or object as witness

2. the form of such a pronouncement

3. an irreverent or blasphemous expression, esp one involving the name of a deity; curse

4. 1. under the obligation of an oath

   2. law having sworn to tell the truth, usually with one's hand on the Bible

5. to declare formally with an oath or pledge, esp before giving evidence

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• oaths
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of oath

First recorded before 900; Middle English oth, Old English āth; cognate with Gothic aiths, Old Norse eidhr, German Eid

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Explanation

An oath is a promise. If you want to borrow your brother's car, you may have to swear a solemn oath that you will bring it back unharmed. An oath is a solemn promise, sometimes made in front of a witness, or a vow in a court of law that you will tell the absolute truth. No matter what the circumstances are, swearing an oath is serious business. That's why it's odd that an oath can also be an angry outburst of obscene words. Your brother might mutter an oath under his breath and clench his fists angrily if you return his car to him with a broken side mirror.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

oath oaths

All members of our government took an oath to support and defend that right.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

In the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, Congress said voters may register to vote by filling out a form and attesting under oath they are citizens.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

The Venice Commission later recommended that judges should be able to assume office without requiring a presidential oath.

From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026

Neither O’Keefe nor Higby cast a ballot or signed the required vouching oath.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026

He takes his hand off the wheel and raises it in an oath.

From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King

Dunk’s good, stout heart informs his determination to live up to the ancient chivalric oaths, which also makes him hopelessly naïve.

From Salon ● Feb. 23, 2026

Members of the military swear oaths to the Constitution, not to the president or other officials in the chain of command.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 24, 2025

But once you settle into the job of deputy director of the FBI, with oaths and the need to maintain creditability among staff and support the institution, the responsibilities become kind of a drag.

From Slate ● May 24, 2025

On Friday, the territory announced that they have adjusted the law to give the option of taking one of the two oaths.

From BBC ● Nov. 29, 2024

"And yet, it is truly said that blood runs truer than oaths."

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

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Related Words

• affidavit
• deposition
• pledge
• testimony
• vow

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