affidavit

[ af-i-dey-vit ]

noun

, Law.

1. a written declaration upon oath made before an authorized official.

affidavit

/ ˌæfɪˈdeɪvɪt /

noun

1. law a declaration in writing made upon oath before a person authorized to administer oaths, esp for use as evidence in court

Other Words From

• preaf·fi·davit noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of affidavit¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Medieval Latin affīdāvit “(he) has declared on oath,” 3rd-person singular perfect of affīdāre “to declare an oath”; affiance

Word History and Origins

Origin of affidavit¹

C17: from Medieval Latin, literally: he declares on oath, from affīdare to trust (oneself) to; see affiance

Example Sentences

Assistant city attorney Hector Emilio Corea said in a sworn affidavit that he was part of a team of lawyers and staffers from the city attorney’s office who painstakingly combed through most of the plaintiff officers’ backgrounds.

From Los Angeles Times

“The officers also noticed a white powder residue that was loose in the suitcase and was visible on their black gloves,” according to an affidavit summarizing the incident.

From Los Angeles Times

Suspicious, the officers unzipped the suitcase’s lining and found a stack of 13 white T-shirts “that were wet and appeared to be caked with a white powdery substance,” according to the affidavit.

From Los Angeles Times

The total amount of the drug is unclear; the agent’s affidavit contains an estimate of “several kilograms” of the drug were soaked in the T-shirts.

From Los Angeles Times

Although she admitted to purchasing the white T-shirts from Target — and had the receipts to prove it — she “claimed to have no knowledge” of the white powder that was caked onto the wet shirts, the affidavit states.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• oath
• testimony