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
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Bean, Haley and Smith were found guilty in federal court in October of obstruction of justice through witness tampering related to an attempt to cover up the beating. CBS News, 13 June 2025 South Florida Michelin-star chef charged with witness tampering after jailhouse phone calls Morning Update: South Florida’s top stories for Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Sports Dave Hyde: Is anyone better than Playoff Sam Bennett right now? South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 11 June 2025 Bean and Smith were found guilty on federal charges of witness tampering and face up to 20 years in federal prison. Cheyanne M. Daniels, The Hill, 7 May 2025 Mason, 41, faces up to 20 years in prison on the sole witness tampering conviction, but he is expected to receive a far less severe sentence. Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 22 May 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 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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