perjury

[ pur-juh-ree ]

noun

, Law.

, plural per·ju·ries.

1. the willful giving of false testimony under oath or affirmation, before a competent tribunal, upon a point material to a legal inquiry.

perjury

/ ˈpɜːdʒərɪ; pɜːˈdʒʊərɪəs /

noun

1. criminal law the offence committed by a witness in judicial proceedings who, having been lawfully sworn or having affirmed, wilfully gives false evidence

Derived Forms

• perjurious, adjective
• perˈjuriously, adverb

Other Words From

• per·ju·ri·ous [per-, joor, -ee-, uh, s], adjective
• per·juri·ous·ly adverb
• per·juri·ous·ness noun
• non·perju·ry noun plural nonperjuries

Word History and Origins

Origin of perjury¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English perjurie, from Anglo-French, from Latin perjūrium, from perjūr(us) “swearing falsely” ( perjure ) + -ium -ium; replacing parjure, from Old French, from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of perjury¹

C14: from Anglo-French parjurie, from Latin perjūrium a false oath; see perjure

Example Sentences

In 2019, the board recommended police agencies drop a requirement that people identify themselves and sign their complaints under penalty of perjury, which has a chilling effect.

From Voice of San Diego

These were sworn testimonials of what people saw, statements subject to perjury.

From Washington Post

For Murphy, Nielsen’s untruths in front of Congress amounted to potential perjury — a criminal charge.

From Vox

He demanded the journalists “immediately correct the record” and included two depositions attesting under penalty of perjury that the version of the document NBC 7 published was doctored.

From Voice of San Diego

San Diego’s district attorney could also choose to press charges that might be related to safeguarding public funds or perjury.

From Voice of San Diego

The charges included corruption, perjury, bid-fixing and fraud.

From The Daily Beast

Then, after the headlines came out, the sources recanted, and they have since been convicted (in Syrian courts) of perjury.

From The Daily Beast

The woman was acquitted of perjury, which could have landed the mother of three 15 years in jail.

From The Daily Beast

He was convicted of perjury, served 30 days, and went back to a swashbuckling career in contraband.

From The Daily Beast

Beaird seemed to be either admitting perjury or committing it.

From The Daily Beast

He was voluble in his declarations that they would “put the screws” to Ollie on the charge of perjury.

From Project Gutenberg

So he bore down on the solemn declaration that she stood face to face with a prison term for perjury.

From Project Gutenberg

This unheard-of despotism, this horrible political perjury, was certainly not merited by the good and generous Brazil.

From Project Gutenberg

This thing called Secession originated in falsehood, theft and perjury.

From Project Gutenberg

They were subject to a single will; moved often by perjury, and sometimes by passion.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• deception
• dishonesty
• falsehood
• falsification