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Depose: meaning, definitions and examples

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depose

 

[ dɪˈpoʊz ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

legal

To remove from office or position of power, often through force or legal means. Deposing a leader can involve impeachment, resignation or overthrow. The act of deposition is often a formal process carried out by a governing body or court.

Synonyms

oust, overthrow, remove.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
depose

Use this word when talking about formally removing someone from office or a position of power, often in a legal or official manner.

  • The board decided to depose the CEO after the financial scandal.
  • The king was deposed by a vote in parliament.
remove

General term used for taking someone out of a position or place, not necessarily with force or formal procedure. It's a more neutral term.

  • The teacher decided to remove the disruptive student from the classroom.
  • He was removed from office following the misconduct.
oust

This word is appropriate when someone is forcefully or suddenly removed from a place, position, or office. It often has a connotation of strong and sometimes illicit actions.

  • The corrupt official was ousted by public protests.
  • The military ousted the elected president.
overthrow

This is used when talking about forcefully removing a leader or government, typically by a rebellion or coup. It often suggests a complete change in power structure.

  • The dictator was overthrown by a popular uprising.
  • They planned to overthrow the corrupt regime.

Examples of usage

  • The president was deposed following allegations of corruption.
  • The dictator was deposed in a military coup.
Context #2 | Verb

formal

To testify or give evidence under oath. Depositions are often taken as part of legal proceedings to gather information or establish facts.

Synonyms

affirm, swear, testify.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
depose

This term is often used in legal situations when someone is giving testimony under oath, typically during a deposition or in court. It can also imply removing someone from office, but in this context, it refers to testifying.

  • She was asked to depose about what she witnessed that night.
  • The witness will depose tomorrow morning.
testify

Testify is used primarily in legal contexts where someone gives official statements or evidence in court under oath.

  • She will testify in court about what she saw.
  • He was called to testify as an expert witness in the trial.
swear

This term is commonly used in legal contexts when someone takes an oath to tell the truth. It can also be used informally to emphasize the truthfulness of a statement.

  • You have to swear to tell the truth before you testify in court.
  • I swear, I didn't know about the surprise party!
affirm

Affirm is generally used when someone confirms or declares something to be true, often with a positive connotation. It is less formal than 'testify' and does not necessarily imply the legal context of being under oath.

  • He affirmed his support for the new policy.
  • The CEO affirmed the company's commitment to sustainability.

Examples of usage

  • The witness was deposed in court.
  • The lawyer deposed the expert witness.

Translations

Translations of the word "depose" in other languages:

🇵🇹 destituir

🇮🇳 अधिकार से हटाना

🇩🇪 absetzen

🇮🇩 memecat

🇺🇦 усунути з посади

🇵🇱 zdeponować

🇯🇵 解任する

🇫🇷 déposer

🇪🇸 deponer

🇹🇷 görevden almak

🇰🇷 해임하다

🇸🇦 عزل

🇨🇿 odvolat

🇸🇰 odvolať

🇨🇳 罢免

🇸🇮 odstaviti

🇮🇸 svipta embætti

🇰🇿 қызметтен босату

🇬🇪 გადაყენება

🇦🇿 vəzifədən çıxarmaq

🇲🇽 deponer

Etymology

The word 'depose' originated from the Old French word 'deposer', which meant 'to put down' or 'to remove from a high position'. It entered the English language in the late 14th century. Over the years, 'depose' has been commonly used in legal and political contexts to describe the removal of a leader or the act of giving testimony under oath.

See also: dispose, expose, impose, pose, poser, posing, repose, transpose, unposed.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #21,410, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.