perjury Definition
the offense of willfully telling an untruth in a court after having taken an oath or affirmation.
Using perjury: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "perjury" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The witness was charged with perjury for lying under oath.
Example
He was found guilty of perjury and sentenced to five years in prison.
Example
She committed perjury by giving false testimony in court.
perjury Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for perjury
- perfidy
- false testimony
- lying under oath
Phrases with perjury
Example
He was accused of committing perjury during his testimony.
Example
The prosecutor filed a charge of perjury against the defendant.
a situation in which a witness is asked a question that is designed to elicit false testimony, so that they can be charged with perjury
Example
The defense attorney set a perjury trap for the witness by asking a misleading question.
Origins of perjury
from Anglo-French 'perjurie', from Latin 'perjurium', from 'per-' (through) + 'jurare' (to swear)
Summary: perjury in Brief
'Perjury' [ˈpərdʒəri] refers to the act of lying under oath in a court of law. It is a serious offense that can result in criminal charges and imprisonment. Examples of its use include 'The witness was charged with perjury for lying under oath.' 'Perjury' also appears in phrases like 'commit perjury,' meaning to lie under oath, and 'perjury trap,' a situation where a witness is asked a question designed to elicit false testimony.
