deposition

noun

Save Word

de·po·si·tion | \ ˌde-pə-ˈzi-shən

, ˌdē-pə- \

Definition of deposition

1a law : a testifying especially before a court was sworn in before giving his deposition

b : declaration specifically, law : testimony taken down in writing under oath took depositions from the witnesses

c law : out-of-court testimony made under oath and recorded by an authorized officer for later use in court gave a videotaped deposition about what she witnessed also : a meeting at which such testimony is taken

2 : an act or process of laying someone or something down or letting something fall : an act or process of depositing the deposition of earth and stone by glaciers

3 : something deposited : deposit Moraines are glacial depositions.

4 : an act of removing from a position of authority : an act of deposing deposition of a king

Other Words from deposition Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing deposition Learn More About deposition

Examples of deposition in a Sentence

She gave a videotaped deposition about what she saw that night. His attorneys took depositions from the witnesses. the deposition of sand and gravel on the river bed

Recent Examples on the Web Instead of spiking or even postponing the trial’s May 23 start date, Judge Karlan ordered Huth to sit for another hour of deposition questioning this week. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2022 Attorney Chris Mattei, a lawyer representing the Sandy Hook families, revealed during the hearing Wednesday that Jones’ attorneys’ motion to depose Clinton came in the middle of that first deposition with Erica Lafferty. — Zach Murdock, courant.com, 20 Oct. 2021 David Fuad, one of the NCAA’s lawyers from Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, objected on grounds of prejudice about a portion of the deposition from Emmert that referenced an unrelated case involving a brain injury. — James Crepea | The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 18 Apr. 2022 Jurors will instead hear parts of a video deposition Mattingly gave in a pending civil lawsuit. — Dylan Lovan, ajc, 22 Feb. 2022 John Moot, the lawyer for Talley, asked Flournoy what Moore said, according to a transcript of the deposition. — Greg Moran, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2022 Kirshner also criticized the release of the deposition and exhibits. — Graham Kates, CBS News, 30 Nov. 2021 Then, in February, Propst - the star of MTV’s Two-A-Days in 2006, which chronicled the Hoover Bucs football season and produced by Sciavicco - was at the center of a 64-page deposition made public in Georgia. — Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 27 Aug. 2021 Below is a transcript of a deposition of Dearborn Mayor John O’Reilly Jr. on Feb. 13, 2019. — Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 31 July 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'deposition.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Learn More About deposition

Dictionary Entries Near deposition

deposit currency

deposition

deposition from the cross

Statistics for deposition

Last Updated

21 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Deposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deposition. Accessed 24 May. 2022.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

More Definitions for deposition

deposition

noun

de·po·si·tion | \ ˌdep-ə-ˈzi-shən

, ˌdē-pə-

Medical Definition of deposition

1 : a process of depositing something the deposition and clearance of a metabolic product

2 : something deposited : deposit beta-amyloid depositions in Alzheimer's disease

deposition

noun

de·po·si·tion | \ ˌde-pə-ˈzi-shən

Legal Definition of deposition

1a : a statement that is made under oath by a party or witness (as an expert) in response to oral examination or written questions and that is recorded by an authorized officer (as a court reporter) broadly : affidavit

b : the certified document recording such a statement — compare interrogatory

2 : the hearing at which a deposition is made the deposition takes place where the deponent answers the questions — Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 30(b)(4)

Note: A deposition can be used as a method of discovery, to preserve the testimony of a witness who is likely to become unavailable for trial, or for impeachment of testimony at trial. Depositions are distinguished from affidavits by the requirement that notice and an opportunity to cross-examine the deponent must be given to the other party.