Perjure: meaning, definitions and examples

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perjure

 

[ ˈpəːdʒə ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

in court

To willfully tell an untruth when giving evidence to a court; to lie under oath. Perjury is a serious offense that can result in legal consequences.

Synonyms

deception, falsehood, lie.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
perjure

Used in legal contexts when someone lies under oath.

  • He was found guilty of perjuring himself during the trial
lie

Used in everyday situations to describe a straightforward untruth. It can be used in both minor and serious contexts.

  • She told a lie about where she had been
falsehood

Used to describe statements that are untrue, typically in discussions about truth and honesty.

  • The politician's speech was full of falsehoods
deception

Used in situations where dishonesty is involved but not necessarily under oath. Can refer to any act intended to mislead.

  • Her friendly demeanor was just a deception to gain his trust

Examples of usage

  • He was found guilty of perjury after it was proven that he had lied under oath.
  • The witness admitted to committing perjury during the trial.
Context #2 | Verb

general

To willfully tell a lie or make a false statement, especially under oath or in a legal context.

Synonyms

deceive, falsify, misrepresent.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
perjure

This word is used in legal scenarios when someone lies while under oath in a court of law.

  • The witness decided to perjure himself to protect his friend
  • She swore to tell the truth but later was found to have perjured in her testimony
falsify

Often used in formal or legal scenarios where documents or records are altered to mislead. It involves deliberate manipulation of information.

  • The accountant was caught trying to falsify the financial records
  • They decided to falsify the data to make their research look more successful
misrepresent

Used when someone provides false information or portrays something inaccurately. This can be in a variety of contexts, from business to personal relations.

  • The company was accused of misrepresenting the risks of their product
  • He tends to misrepresent his achievements to impress others
deceive

Used when someone is misleading another person by lying or hiding the truth. It can be used in both casual and formal situations.

  • He tried to deceive his boss about the missed deadline
  • She felt deceived when she found out the truth about her friend's actions

Examples of usage

  • The politician was accused of perjuring himself during the investigation.
  • She perjured herself by providing false information to the authorities.

Translations

Translations of the word "perjure" in other languages:

🇵🇹 perjurar

🇮🇳 झूठी गवाही देना

🇩🇪 Meineid schwören

🇮🇩 bersumpah palsu

🇺🇦 давати неправдиві свідчення

🇵🇱 krzywoprzysięgać

🇯🇵 偽証する

🇫🇷 se parjurer

🇪🇸 perjurar

🇹🇷 yalancı şahitlik etmek

🇰🇷 위증하다

🇸🇦 يشهد زورا

🇨🇿 křivě přísahat

🇸🇰 krivo prisahať

🇨🇳 伪证

🇸🇮 krivo priseči

🇮🇸 bera ljúgvitni

🇰🇿 жалған ант беру

🇬🇪 მოწმობა ცრუ

🇦🇿 yalançı şahidlik etmək

🇲🇽 perjurar

Etymology

The word 'perjure' originates from the Latin word 'perjūrāre', which means 'to swear falsely'. The concept of perjury has been a part of legal systems for centuries, with penalties varying depending on the jurisdiction. Perjury is considered a serious offense as it undermines the integrity of the legal system.

See also: perjurer, perjury.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,365, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.