deposition

noun

de·​po·​si·​tion ˌde-pə-ˈzi-shən 

ˌdē-pə-

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

ˌde-pə-ˈzish-nəl 

-shə-nᵊl

ˌdē-pə-

adjective

Synonyms

• deposit
• dregs
• grounds
• precipitate
• sediment
• settlings

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

In deposition for the trial, in January, Murdoch had rejected the baseless theories about the 2020 election being stolen that hosts had shared on air. —Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2023

In terms of getting actual transcripts from the trial and transcripts from depositions and interviews, that was something my assistant was a really big help with. —Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2023

That ruling forced a former prosecutor who investigated Trump in the Manhattan district attorney’s office, Mark Pomerantz, to appear before the committee for a deposition. —Jacqueline Alemany, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2023

Giuliani also must ensure his eponymous businesses cover more than $43,000 in attorneys' fees associated with an effort to force them to respond to requests for documents and depositions, the judge said. —Clare Hymes, CBS News, 7 Sep. 2023

The former president frequently used the deposition to attack the case itself. —William K. Rashbaum, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2023

Trump is not expected to testify in court if the case goes to trial, but video recordings of his depositions could be played. —CBS News, 15 Sep. 2023

The subpoenas, reviewed by the Washington Examiner, required senior litigation counsel Mark Daly and trial attorney Jack Morgan to appear for depositions before the committee on Sept. 27 and Sept. 28, respectively. —Ashley Oliver, Washington Examiner, 14 Sep. 2023

Over objection of the United States, the Court granted in part Texas’s Motion, permitting Texas to conduct three-hour depositions of three declarants upon whom the United States relied in its Motion, and ordering these depositions to occur by or on August 7, 2023. —Aarón Torres, Dallas News, 7 Sep. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

see depose

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing deposition

• atomic layer deposition

• atomic layer deposition

Kids Definition

deposition

noun

de·​po·​si·​tion ˌdep-ə-ˈzish-ən 

ˌdē-pə-

1

: the act of removing a person from high office

the deposition of the king

2

: a statement especially in writing made under oath

3

: the action or process of depositing

the deposition of silt by a stream

4

: something deposited : deposit

depositional

-ˈzish-nəl 

-ən-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

deposition

noun

de·​po·​si·​tion ˌdep-ə-ˈzi-shən  ˌdē-pə- 

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

Legal Definition

deposition

noun

de·​po·​si·​tion ˌde-pə-ˈzi-shən 

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.

Etymology

Late Latin depositio testimony, from Latin, act of depositing, from deponere to put down, deposit