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noun Uncommon

perjury

PURD-zhuh-ree

Perjury (noun) means the crime of deliberately lying while under oath in a legal setting. Example: “The witness was charged with perjury after contradicting his earlier statement.”

noun
1
The crime of deliberately lying while under oath in a legal setting.
"The witness was charged with perjury after contradicting his earlier statement."

How to use perjury

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLying under oath, treated as a criminal offense.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
commit perjury charged with perjury

Word forms

perjuries plural

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The witness was charged with _____ after contradicting his earlier statement.

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman perjurie, from Latin periurare ("to swear falsely").

Origin: Latin

lying under oath bearing false witness

Rhymes for perjury

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Frequently asked questions

What does “perjury” mean?

The word “perjury” means the crime of deliberately lying while under oath in a legal setting. In plain terms, lying under oath, treated as a criminal offense.

How do you pronounce “perjury”?

“Perjury” is pronounced PURD-zhuh-ree (/ˈpɜː(ɹ)d͡ʒəɹi/ in IPA).

How do you use “perjury” in a sentence?

Here is “perjury” used in a sentence: “The witness was charged with perjury after contradicting his earlier statement.”

What part of speech is “perjury”?

“Perjury” is a noun.

Where does the word “perjury” come from?

The word “perjury” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman perjurie, from Latin periurare ("to swear falsely").

Is “perjury” a common word?

“Perjury” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial