affidavit
af-ih-DAY-vit
/ˌæfɪˈdeɪvɪt/
A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, for use as evidence in court.
Must be written down and sworn before an authorized person (like a notary public) to carry legal weight.
The story behind the word. Affidavit is a Latin word meaning 'he has pledged his faith.' In medieval times, legal documents written in Latin used this word to state that a person had sworn a solemn oath of truthfulness before an ecclesiastical or civil authority.
Word relationships
- deposition: A deposition is out-of-court oral testimony recorded for later use, while an affidavit is a written statement sworn without cross-examination.
- declaration: A declaration is a formal statement but does not always require a religious or legal oath before a notary.
Commonly confused with
- testimony: Testimony is typically spoken aloud in a courtroom, whereas an affidavit is always a written document.
Collocations
- signed affidavit
- sworn affidavit
- submit an affidavit
- affidavit of support
Example sentences
- "The witness signed an affidavit confirming that she saw the suspect leave the building." Court proceedings
- "He submitted a financial affidavit to prove he had the funds to support his visa application." Financial verification
Memory hook
An affidavit is a document that shows you 'afford to be honest' because you are under oath. Affidavit = David's sworn statement.
When not to use
Do not use for oral testimony or casual written promises; it must be a sworn, written document.
Fun facts
- Because affidavits are signed under penalty of perjury, lying on an affidavit carries the exact same criminal penalties as lying on the witness stand in a courtroom.
Related words
Also appears in
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