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

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

From Los Angeles Times

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

From BBC

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

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

Haddix, who calls herself the “Dolly Parton of chimps,” pleaded guilty to perjury and obstruction of justice in March and was arrested in July for harboring yet another ape in her Missouri home.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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