witness tampering

noun

law
: the act of physically harming or using threats, intimidation, harassment, or corrupt persuasion against a witness with the goal of influencing the witness's testimony or preventing the witness from providing evidence in an official proceeding
…12 jurors are considering whether to put him in prison for the rest of his life on charges that include racketeering, extortion, bribery, mail fraud and witness tampering.Karen Tumulty

Examples of witness tampering in a Sentence

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.
The session proceeded without a live video-feed of the 22-year-old defendant charged with murdering the conservative influencer at a Utah college campus on September 10, alongside counts of felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction, and witness tampering. Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025 Robinson faces murder and other felony charges, including discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering for allegedly instructing his roommate not to cooperate with authorities. Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Sep. 2025 Robinson faces seven felonies, including discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering for allegedly instructing his roommate not to cooperate with authorities. Cheryl McCloud, Freep.com, 21 Sep. 2025 Webster County Former Webster County Sheriff Donald Jones pleaded guilty to witness tampering and official misconduct in 2023. Josh Wood, Louisville Courier Journal, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for witness tampering

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of witness tampering was in 1902

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Cite this Entry

“Witness tampering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/witness%20tampering. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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