affidavit

noun

af·​fi·​da·​vit ˌa-fə-ˈdā-vət How to pronounce affidavit (audio)
: a sworn statement in writing made especially under oath or on affirmation (see affirmation sense 2) before an authorized magistrate or officer
The witness's affidavit was presented to the court as evidence.

Did you know?

Promises, Promises: The History of Affidavit, Affiance, & Fiancé

Affidavit refers to a written promise, and its Latin roots connect it to another kind of promise in English. It comes from a past tense form of the Latin verb affidare, meaning “to pledge”; in Latin, affidavit translates to “he or she has made a pledge.”

Affidare is also the root of affiance, an archaic English noun meaning “trust, faith, confidence,” “marriage contract or promise,” or a meaning that has completely fallen from use, “close or intimate relationship.” More familiar to modern English speakers is the verb affiance, meaning “to promise in marriage” or “to betroth.” It usually appears as a fancy-sounding participial adjective:

I like to give affianced friends a copy of Rebecca Mead’s book “One Perfect Day,” which exposes the ridiculous wedding industry.
—Mollie Hemingway, The Federalist, 7 October 2014

Affiance came through French to English in the 14th century, and, nearly 500 years later, the related French words fiancé and fiancée were added to English. Etymologically speaking, a fiancé or fiancée is a “promised one.”

Did you know?

In Latin, affidavit means "he (she) has sworn an oath", and an affidavit is always a sworn written document. If it contains a lie, the person making it may be prosecuted. Affidavits are often used in court when it isn't possible for someone to appear in person. Police officers must usually file an affidavit with a judge to get a search warrant. Affidavits (unlike similar signed statements called depositions) are usually made without an opposing lawyer being present and able to ask questions.

Examples of affidavit in a Sentence

We have a signed affidavit stating that the two men were seen entering the building.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
An arrest affidavit from the Aurora Police Department obtained by PEOPLE claims that James slipped potassium cyanide and arsenic into his wife’s pre-workout shake beginning the morning of March 6. Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 30 Nov. 2024 Those public social media pages helped police connect Velez to the theft, according to the affidavit. Janelle Griffith, NBC News, 26 Nov. 2024 While pointing the gun in the direction of the Lyft, which was driving away, the weapon fired and struck her daughter in the left shoulder, according to the affidavit. Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 2024 Craig allegedly flew his orthodontist lover from Austin to Denver while his wife was dying, according to a detailed arrest affidavit. Christina Coulter, Fox News, 25 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for affidavit 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin affīdāvit "he/she has made a pledge," third person singular perfect indicative active of affīdāre — more at affiance entry 1

First Known Use

1515, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of affidavit was in 1515

Dictionary Entries Near affidavit

Cite this Entry

“Affidavit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affidavit. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

affidavit

noun
af·​fi·​da·​vit ˌaf-ə-ˈdā-vət How to pronounce affidavit (audio)
: a sworn statement in writing

Legal Definition

affidavit

noun
af·​fi·​da·​vit ˌa-fə-ˈdā-vət How to pronounce affidavit (audio)
: a sworn statement in writing made especially under oath or on affirmation before an authorized magistrate or officer compare deposition, examination
Etymology

Medieval Latin, he/she has pledged faith, third singular perfect of affidare see affiant

More from Merriam-Webster on affidavit

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