deposition

noun de·po·si·tion \ ˌde-pə-ˈzi-shən , ˌdē-pə- \

|Updated on: 10 Jun 2018

Examples: deposition in a Sentence

Definition of deposition

1 a 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

—

depositional

play \-ˈzish-nəl, -shə-nᵊl\ adjective

See deposition defined for English-language learners

See deposition defined for kids

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 of deposition from the Web

Schechter ordered both parties to submit to depositions … with a deadline of Jan. 31, 2019.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Judge Tells Trump to Submit to Deposition in Sexual-Harassment Suit," 5 June 2018
In addition to setting deposition deadlines, Judge Schecter on Tuesday said all fact discovery in the case should be completed by April, a timeline that points to a possible trial as early as the summer or fall of 2019.

— jacob gershman, WSJ, "Judge Orders Donald Trump to Be Deposed in Ex-Apprentice Contestant’s Defamation Case," 5 June 2018
The Police Board concluded that Lopez and Feliciano had violated the department’s Rule 14 by making false statements in depositions for the lawsuit and in testimony as part of the IPRA investigation.

— jeremy gorner, chicagotribune.com, "Two Chicago cops suspended for lying about an unauthorized chase that injured teen girl — 14 years ago," 31 May 2018
The 2007 state appeal featured a deposition of Otis Jackson, a man who, on three separate occasions, confessed to the crime for which Al-Amin is imprisoned.

— obaid h. siddiqui, The Root, "The Unofficial Gag Order of Jamil Al-Amin (H. Rap Brown): 16 Years in Prison, Still Not Allowed to Speak," 30 May 2018
In depositions, Racher said, DOC officials said no member has received threats regarding implementation of the death penalty.

— mark alesia, Indianapolis Star, "What Indiana officials want to keep secret about executions," 16 May 2018
Bevin's comments Tuesday came a day after Shepherd denied the governor's request to take depositions – sworn testimony – from the plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit.

— tom loftus, The Courier-Journal, "Matt Bevin rips judge involved in pension case as 'incompetent hack'," 8 May 2018
Cosby did not testify in open court in the original trial, but said previously in depositions he was attracted to her and considered their fireside encounter to be a romantic one.

— laura king, latimes.com, "Opening statements in Bill Cosby's retrial are scheduled to begin, but a dispute may cause a delay," 9 Apr. 2018
The $18-Billion Prize Theatre Verité Collective presents Phelim McAleer and Jonathan Leaf’s new play based on the trial and deposition transcriptsfrom the court case Donziger vs. Chevron Corp. May 18-June 3.

— chronicle staff report, San Francisco Chronicle, "Theater capsule reviews and listings, week of May 27," 24 May 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of deposition

see depose

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 4

See Words from the same year

deposition Synonyms

Synonyms

deposit, dregs, grounds, precipitate, sediment, settlings;

Related Words

lees;

ooze, silt, sludge;

dross, slag, waste;

DEPOSITION Defined for English Language Learners

deposition

noun

Definition of deposition for English Language Learners

law : a formal statement that someone who has promised to tell the truth makes so that the statement can be used in court; especially : a formal statement that is made before a trial by a witness who will not be present at the trial
: the action of depositing something (such as sand, snow, or mud) on a surface or area especially over a period of time
: the act removing someone from a powerful position : the act of deposing someone

Medical Dictionary

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

Law Dictionary

deposition

noun de·po·si·tion \ ˌde-pə-ˈzi-shən \

legal Definition of deposition

1 a : 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.