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.

In legal terminology, this term refers to the process of giving sworn evidence outside of court. It is often used in pre-trial proceedings.

• The lawyer asked her to recount the events in her deposition.
• His deposition was crucial for the case.

In scientific contexts, it describes the transition of a substance from a solid state directly to a gas without passing through a liquid phase. It is a common term in chemistry and physics.

• Dry ice undergoes sublimation at room temperature.
• The process of sublimation is essential in freeze-drying food.

This term is commonly used in everyday language and science to refer to the process of a gas changing to a liquid. It is frequently associated with weather phenomena or cooling systems.

• Condensation formed on the outside of the cold drink can.
• The condensation on the bathroom mirror was due to the hot shower.