perjury

[pur-juh-ree]

noun

Law.

plural

perjuries 

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

perjury

/ ˈpɜːdʒərɪ, pɜːˈdʒʊərɪəs /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• perjurious adjective
• perjuriously adverb
• perjuriousness noun
• nonperjury noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of perjury¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English perjurie, from Anglo-French, from Latin perjūrium, from perjūr(us) “swearing falsely” ( perjure ) + -ium -ium; replacing parjure, from Old French, from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of perjury¹

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

Example Sentences

The US Department of Justice has charged James Comey with perjury over testimony he gave to Congress five years ago.

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California residents must sign an affidavit under penalty of perjury to register to vote.

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A SIT official who did not want to be named told the BBC on Saturday morning that the man "has been arrested for perjury".

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Price now faces 12 criminal counts in total accusing him of grand theft by embezzlement, perjury and violating state conflict of interest laws.

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In June 2023, Price was charged with 10 counts of grand theft by embezzlement, perjury and conflict of interest.

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Related Words

• deception 
• dishonesty 
• falsehood 
• falsification www.thesaurus.com