perjury

[ pur-juh-ree ]

/ ˈpɜr dʒə ri /

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See synonyms for: perjury / perjurious on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural per·ju·ries.Law.

the willful giving of false testimony under oath or affirmation, before a competent tribunal, upon a point material to a legal inquiry.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of perjury

1250–1300; Middle English perjurie<Anglo-French <Latin perjūrium, equivalent to perjūr(us) swearing falsely (see perjure) + -ium-ium; replacing parjure<Old French <Latin as above

OTHER WORDS FROM perjury

per·ju·ri·ous

[per-joor-ee-uhs], /pərˈdʒʊər i əs/, adjectiveper·ju·ri·ous·ly, adverbper·ju·ri·ous·ness, nounnon·per·ju·ry, noun, plural non·per·ju·ries.

Words nearby perjury

periwig chair, periwinkle, perjink, perjure, perjured, perjury, perk, Perkin, Perkins, Perkins, Frances, Perkin's mauve

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

How to use perjury in a sentence

In 2019, the board recommended police agencies drop a requirement that people identify themselves and sign their complaints under penalty of perjury, which has a chilling effect.
Why Complaints Against the Sheriff’s Department Are Surging|Jesse Marx|December 22, 2020|Voice of San Diego
These were sworn testimonials of what people saw, statements subject to perjury.
If there is any real evidence of fraud, Mr. President, it’s time to put up|Philip Bump|November 28, 2020|Washington Post
For Murphy, Nielsen’s untruths in front of Congress amounted to potential perjury — a criminal charge.
What to make of the DHS whistleblower’s shocking complaint|Alex Ward|September 11, 2020|Vox
He demanded the journalists “immediately correct the record” and included two depositions attesting under penalty of perjury that the version of the document NBC 7 published was doctored.
Morning Report: Hotel Workers Want Their Jobs Back|Voice of San Diego|September 8, 2020|Voice of San Diego

San Diego’s district attorney could also choose to press charges that might be related to safeguarding public funds or perjury.
Morning Report: Report Finds Evidence of Fraud in Sweetwater Budget Mess|Voice of San Diego|June 23, 2020|Voice of San Diego
The charges included corruption, perjury, bid-fixing and fraud.
Madonna, Carla Bruni & Obama Abandoned Pledges To Rebuild L'Aquila After The Quake|Barbie Latza Nadeau|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then, after the headlines came out, the sources recanted, and they have since been convicted (in Syrian courts) of perjury.
Digital Doublethink: Playing Truth or Dare with Putin, Assad and ISIS|Christopher Dickey, Anna Nemtsova|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The woman was acquitted of perjury, which could have landed the mother of three 15 years in jail.
The Democrats' Katherine Harris Strategy|Patricia Murphy|September 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was convicted of perjury, served 30 days, and went back to a swashbuckling career in contraband.
The Weirdest Story About a Conservative Obsession, a Convicted Bomber, and Taylor Swift You Have Ever Read|David Weigel|August 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Beaird seemed to be either admitting perjury or committing it.
The Day Ferguson Cops Were Caught in a Bloody Lie|Michael Daly|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was voluble in his declarations that they would “put the screws” to Ollie on the charge of perjury.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
So he bore down on the solemn declaration that she stood face to face with a prison term for perjury.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
This unheard-of despotism, this horrible political perjury, was certainly not merited by the good and generous Brazil.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil|Maria Graham
This thing called Secession originated in falsehood, theft and perjury.
Portrait and Biography of Parson Brownlow, The Tennessee Patriot|William Gannaway Brownlow
They were subject to a single will; moved often by perjury, and sometimes by passion.
The History of Tasmania , Volume II (of 2)|John West

British Dictionary definitions for perjury

perjury

/ (ˈpɜːdʒərɪ) /

noun plural -juries

criminal law the offence committed by a witness in judicial proceedings who, having been lawfully sworn or having affirmed, wilfully gives false evidence

Derived forms of perjury

perjurious (pɜːˈdʒʊərɪəs), adjectiveperjuriously, adverb

Word Origin for perjury

C14: from Anglo-French parjurie, from Latin perjūrium a false oath; see perjure

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

perjury

Origin of perjury

OTHER WORDS FROM perjury

Words nearby perjury

Words related to perjury

How to use perjury in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for perjury

Derived forms of perjury

Word Origin for perjury