affidavit
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
- preaffidavit noun
Etymology
Origin of affidavit
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
Explanation
If you make a written statement to the police or another recognized authority like a notary public that you swear is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, what you've put down on paper is an affidavit. We get the noun affidavit from the Latin affidare, which means "to pledge." When you state something in an affidavit, you're pledging to the powers that be that you're not lying. The word usually appears in legal settings; if you watch a lot of cop shows or courtroom dramas, it probably rings a bell. "According to the affidavit, Mrs. Smith told police she found the burglar in her closet wearing her most expensive pair of shoes."
Vocabulary lists containing affidavit
The Crucible
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Tangerine
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
ProPublica was part of a news coalition that sued to unseal the affidavit.
From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026
Based on their own investigation, Brown’s team submitted an affidavit to their superiors at DOJ that did not make a strong enough case to move forward with what Olsen wanted.
From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026
According to a police affidavit, Ortiz had been dating Hatley and Cynthia at the same time.
From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026
The affidavit describes what prosecutors call a “pervasive pattern of self-dealing,” including allegations that Davis directed city contracts to collective impact while sharing finances with Spingola.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026
My aunt Debbie visited the courthouse and swore an affidavit that I was who I said I was.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
