Definition of oath
oaths
play \ˈōthz, ˈōths\1a (1) : a solemn usually formal calling upon God or a god to witness to the truth of what one says or to witness that one sincerely intends to do what one says (2) : a solemn attestation of the truth or inviolability of one's words The witness took an oath to tell the truth in court.b : something (such as a promise) corroborated by an oath They were required to swear an oath of loyalty. took the oath of office
2 : an irreverent or careless use of a sacred name; broadly : swear word He uttered an oath and stormed away.
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Examples of oath in a Sentence
an oath to defend the nation
He uttered an oath and walked away.
Recent Examples of oath from the Web
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Foreign Service officers take an oath, as do military officers, and serve across political administrations.
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Speaking just a few days after Trump took the presidential oath, California Gov. Jerry Brown made a commitment that his state would not back down in its efforts to combat climate change.
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The attorneys asked to question the witnesses under oath.
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In February, less than a month after taking the oath of office, Greitens signed a right-to-work bill into law.
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Valdez says in the video while taking his oath as the new colonel.
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Will a din of applause and cheering swell in the House chamber once Gianforte takes the oath?
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Village President Alice Gallagher, along with new trustees Heidi Rudolph, William Siffermann and James Tyrrell, took the oaths of office Monday.
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In the White House Treaty Room: Whitewater prosecutor Kenneth Starr questioned the First Lady under oath for 10 minutes about how and why administration underlings had collected FBI files on hundreds of past Republican appointees.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oath'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of oath
Middle English ooth, from Old English āth; akin to Old High German eid oath, Middle Irish oeth
First Known Use: before 12th century
OATH Defined for English Language Learners
oath
playDefinition of oath for English Language Learners
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: a formal and serious promise to tell the truth or to do something
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: an offensive or rude word that is used to express anger, frustration, surprise, etc.
OATH Defined for Kids
oath
playDefinition of oath for Students
oaths
\ˈōthz, ˈōths\1 : a solemn promise to tell the truth or do a specific thing
2 : an obscene or impolite word used to express anger or frustration
Medical Dictionary
Law Dictionary
oath
Legal Definition of oath
1 : a solemn attestation of the truth of one's words or the sincerity of one's intentions; specifically : one accompanied by calling upon a deity as a witness
2 : a promise (as to perform official duties faithfully) corroborated by an oath — compare perjury
under oath
: under a solemn and especially legal obligation to tell the truth (as when testifying)
Learn More about oath
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See words that rhyme with oath Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for oath Spanish Central: Translation of oath Nglish: Translation of oath for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of oath for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oath
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