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Perjury: meaning, definitions and examples

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perjury

 

[ ˈpərdʒəri ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

legal term

The offense of willfully telling an untruth in a court after having taken an oath or affirmation.

Synonyms

false swearing, lying under oath, perfidy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
perjury

Used in legal contexts when someone intentionally lies after taking an oath to tell the truth in court.

  • The witness was charged with perjury for giving false testimony.
  • Committing perjury can lead to serious legal consequences.
false swearing

Similar to perjury, but it can also refer to lying under oath in non-legal settings, such as in affidavits or declarations.

  • He was caught false swearing in his signed affidavit.
  • False swearing can undermine judicial proceedings.
lying under oath

Informal phrase used to describe the act of lying after promising to tell the truth, typically in a legal setting.

  • She regretted lying under oath during the trial.
  • Lying under oath is a serious offense.
perfidy

Refers to deliberate betrayal or deceit, often used in a broader sense beyond legal contexts to describe treacherous behavior.

  • His perfidy towards his close friends shocked everyone.
  • The spy’s perfidy was eventually uncovered, leading to his arrest.

Examples of usage

  • He was found guilty of perjury for lying under oath during the trial.
  • The witness was charged with perjury after giving false testimony in court.
Context #2 | Noun

general term

The act of lying or making false statements under oath, typically in a legal setting.

Synonyms

deceit, dishonesty, false statement.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
perjury

Use this word when someone lies under oath in a legal setting.

  • The witness was charged with perjury for lying in court
  • Committing perjury can lead to severe legal consequences
false statement

Use this phrase when someone makes a statement that is not true; this can be in both formal and informal contexts.

  • The politician's false statement about the budget was quickly corrected
  • Making false statements in official documents can be considered fraud
deceit

This word fits when someone is being dishonest to trick or mislead others, often in a broader, non-legal context.

  • His deceit about the project's progress caused significant delays
  • She used deceit to gain the trust of the team
dishonesty

This word applies in general situations where someone is not truthful or trustworthy.

  • Dishonesty in relationships can lead to a lack of trust
  • Academic dishonesty is a serious offense in schools and universities

Examples of usage

  • The perjury committed by the defendant significantly impacted the outcome of the case.
  • The consequences of perjury can include fines, imprisonment, or both.

Translations

Translations of the word "perjury" in other languages:

🇵🇹 perjúrio

🇮🇳 झूठी गवाही

🇩🇪 Meineid

🇮🇩 sumpah palsu

🇺🇦 лжесвідчення

🇵🇱 krzywoprzysięstwo

🇯🇵 偽証

🇫🇷 parjure

🇪🇸 perjurio

🇹🇷 yalancı şahitlik

🇰🇷 위증

🇸🇦 شهادة زور

🇨🇿 křivá přísaha

🇸🇰 krivá prísaha

🇨🇳 伪证

🇸🇮 kriva prisega

🇮🇸 meinsæri

🇰🇿 жалған куәлік

🇬🇪 ცრუ ჩვენება

🇦🇿 yalançı şahidlik

🇲🇽 perjurio

Etymology

The word 'perjury' originated from the Latin word 'perjurium', which means false oath. The concept of perjury has been present in legal systems for centuries, dating back to ancient Rome. Perjury is considered a serious offense as it undermines the integrity of the legal process and can lead to miscarriages of justice. Throughout history, various measures have been implemented to deter and punish perjury, reflecting the importance of truth and honesty in legal proceedings.

See also: perjure, perjurer.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #12,134, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.