Synonyms

sworn

American

[swawrn, swohrn] / swɔrn, swoʊrn /

verb

past participle of swear.

adjective

having taken an oath.

a duly elected and sworn official.
bound by or as if by an oath or pledge.
avowed; affirmed.

He is my sworn enemy.

sworn British

/ swɔːn /

verb

the past participle of swear

"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

adjective

bound, pledged, or made inveterate, by or as if by an oath

a sworn statement
he was sworn to God

"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

Etymology

Origin of sworn

First recorded in 1275–1325, for the adjective

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Recently remarried, she has sworn off credit cards, though her husband keeps one for emergencies.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

For one, the former attorney general will not be under oath in a sworn deposition but will provide a transcribed interview, which is voluntary.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama prayed as the leader of the elected goverment of Tibetans in exile was sworn in for a second term on Wednesday.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

The trial at Newry Crown Court began on Tuesday, with a jury sworn in.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

In a last-ditch effort, they hatched a plan to appeal directly to Penkovsky's bosses in the GRU—their sworn enemies—to plead for his life.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023