Perjury

/ˈpɜːrdʒəri/

noun

The act of lying after promising to tell the truth, especially in a court of law.

The witness was charged with perjury after it was discovered that he had lied under oath.

Formal

Technical

Definition 1 of 2

Pro Tip 1/3

Perjury disrupts the justice system, as it relies on truthful testimonies to make fair judgements.

Committing perjury can lead to a miscarriage of justice.

Pro Tip 2/3

Perjury is a serious criminal offense and not just a simple lie; it can result in legal penalties.

He didn't realize the severity of perjury until the judge sentenced him.

Pro Tip 3/3

Perjury specifically refers to lies told after taking an oath to speak truthfully in legal settings.

Despite the oath, the suspect's statement was discovered to be perjury.

deceitdishonestyfalsehoodfalsificationmendacitymisrepresentprevaricate

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