PERJURY

perjury, bearing false witness, lying under oath

(noun) criminal offense of making false statements under oath

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

perjury (countable and uncountable, plural perjuries)

(legal) The deliberate giving of false or misleading testimony under oath.

Synonyms

• oathbreach

• false testimony

Source: Wiktionary

Per"ju*ry, n.; pl. Perjuries. Etym: [L. perjurium. See Perjure, v.]

1. False swearing.

2. (Law)

Definition: At common law, a willfully false statement in a fact material to the issue, made by a witness under oath in a competent judicial proceeding. By statute the penalties of perjury are imposed on the making of willfully false affirmations.

Note: If a man swear falsely in nonjudicial affidavits, it is made perjury by statute in some jurisdictions in the United States.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition