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

Example Sentences

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

Dominion cited deposition testimony from David Clark, a Fox News executive in charge of weekend programming, who acknowledged on Nov. 6, 2020, that the election was fair. —Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2023

Variety Intelligence Platform released a survey Thursday how Fox News viewers feel about the network in the wake of deposition testimony, as well as the hosts’ private emails and text messages. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 17 Mar. 2023

Murdoch, in the deposition, also cited his personal friendship with an unnamed Senate candidate in his suggestion to Scott that the network give extra attention to Republicans in close Senate races. —Nicholas Riccardi And David Bauder, ajc, 10 Mar. 2023

Murdoch, in the deposition, also cited his personal friendship with an unnamed Senate candidate in his suggestion to Scott that the network give extra attention to Republicans in close Senate races. —Nicholas Riccardi, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Mar. 2023

Murdoch, in the deposition, also cited his personal friendship with an unnamed Senate candidate in his suggestion to Scott that the network give extra attention to Republicans in close Senate races. —Nicholas Riccardi, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2023

Matisse actually did a series of Stations of the Cross on one wall, simple numbered outline drawings of Christ’s passion: the scourging, the judgment, the crucifixion, the deposition. —Adam Gopnik, Town & Country, 5 Mar. 2023

Records on the deposition of the traffic offenses were not immediately available. —Tina Burnside, CNN, 2 Mar. 2023

The stunning revelations based on deposition testimony were in a brief filed Monday in Delaware State Court by Dominion Voting Systems, the latest salvo in the company’s $1.6-billion defamation suit against the conservative news network. —Stephen Battaglio Los Angeles Times (tns), al, 27 Feb. 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