perjure
PUR-jer
/ˈpɜːrdʒər/
To willfully tell an untruth or make a false statement when under a solemn oath or affirmation.
Perjure is strictly limited to legal contexts. You cannot perjure yourself in a casual conversation; it requires a formal oath, such as in a courtroom, deposition, or official affidavit.
The story behind the word. Perjure comes from the Latin 'perjurare', combining 'per-' (which in this context means 'wrongly' or 'harmfully') with 'jurare' (to swear, which also gives us 'jury' and 'justice'). Literally, it means to use the sacred act of swearing an oath to cause harm or do wrong.
Word relationships
- forswear: Forswear can mean to formally reject a belief, but when used transitively as 'forswear oneself', it is an archaic synonym for perjure.
- attest: To attest is to declare or certify that something is true, especially under official conditions.
Commonly confused with
- purge: Purge means to rid of an unwanted feeling, memory, or condition, whereas perjure is to lie under oath.
Word family
- perjury (noun): The offense of willfully telling an untruth in a court after having taken an oath.
- perjurer (noun): A person who deliberately lies under oath.
Collocations
- perjure oneself
- charge of perjury
- conspire to perjure
Idioms & expressions
- bear false witness
- lie under oath
Example sentences
- "The judge reminded the witness that to perjure herself on the stand would result in immediate arrest and federal charges." A warning from a judge during a high-profile trial.
- "The president was accused of attempting to perjure himself during the grand jury deposition regarding his personal conduct." A historical political scandal.
Memory hook
Think of 'per-jury'. Doing something bad ('per') in front of the 'jury'. Lying directly to the jury after swearing to tell the truth.
When not to use
Do not use for everyday lying or social fibs. It must involve a broken legal oath.
Fun facts
- In medieval times, perjury was considered a spiritual crime punished by the church, as it involved calling upon God to witness a lie.
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