Deposition: meaning, definitions and examples

Legal setting where a witness provides sworn out-of-court testimony that is recorded for later use in court.

• The lawyer prepared for the deposition by reviewing all relevant documents.
• During the deposition, she answered questions about the car accident.

A formal written or spoken statement given in a court of law.

• The witness's testimony was crucial to the case.
• He gave his testimony with confidence and clarity.

A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, used as evidence in court.

• He signed an affidavit stating that he had seen the suspect at the scene of the crime.
• The evidence included an affidavit from an expert witness.

A formal or explicit statement or announcement, not necessarily under oath but often used in official contexts.

• The government issued a declaration on the new policy changes.
• Her declaration of her intentions was clear and unequivocal.

In a scientific or geological context, 'deposition' refers to the process where material is added to a landform or land mass.

• The river's deposition of sediment created new land over time.
• Deposition of minerals can form stalactites in caves.

In a geological or environmental science context, 'sedimentation' is the process by which particles settle out of a fluid, like water, and accumulate as sediment.

• Sedimentation in the lake has led to a build-up of silt at the bottom.
• The scientist studied the sedimentation patterns in the river delta.

In meteorology, 'precipitation' refers to any form of water, such as rain, snow, or sleet, that falls from the sky.

• The weather forecast predicts heavy precipitation tomorrow.
• Precipitation levels have been unusually high this season.