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Perjury for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: 'pɜrdʒəri

What does Perjury really mean?

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Hey there! So, you're wondering what the word "perjury" means, huh? Well, I'm here to help you understand it in the easiest way possible. So, let's get started!

Perjury is a word that describes when someone tells a deliberate lie or makes false statements while under oath, usually in a court of law. When a person takes an oath, they promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So, if they intentionally say something that they know is not true, that's called perjury. It's like trying to trick or deceive others by saying things that are not honest.

Let's think of it this way. Imagine you and I are playing a game, and we both agree to follow certain rules. One of those rules is that we have to answer each other's questions truthfully. Now, let's say I ask you a question, and you know that the real answer is "banana," but instead, you say "apple" just to mislead me. In this situation, you would be committing perjury because you intentionally gave a false answer, going against the rule of honesty that we agreed upon.

In the real world, perjury can have serious consequences because it undermines the justice system. When people are giving testimony in court, it's crucial to have faith in their words and believe that they're telling the truth. If someone lies under oath and commits perjury, it can lead to wrongful judgments, unfair outcomes, and a loss of trust in the legal process.

Now, perjury doesn't just apply to courts. It can also happen during official statements or sworn testimonies made outside of a courtroom. For example, let's say you saw a car accident, and a police officer asks you to describe what happened. If you intentionally make up a story and provide false information, that would be considered perjury as well.

In summary, perjury means intentionally lying or giving false information while under oath or making official statements. It's like breaking a promise to tell the truth and can have significant consequences in our legal system. Remember, honesty is always the best policy!


Revised and Fact checked by Michael Rodriguez on 2023-10-29 19:13:32

Perjury In a sentece

Learn how to use Perjury inside a sentece

  • When a person is in court and they raise their right hand to swear to tell the truth, but then they lie, they commit perjury.
  • If someone is asked if they saw their friend take a cookie from the cookie jar, and they say no even though they did see it, they are guilty of perjury.
  • Imagine a student who is accused of cheating on a test, and they deny it even though they know they did cheat, they could be charged with perjury.
  • If a witness is questioned in court and they give false information, like saying they saw the defendant at the scene of the crime when they really didn't, they can be charged with perjury.
  • In a trial, if a person takes the stand and swears to tell the truth but then intentionally lies to protect themselves or someone else, they are committing perjury.

Perjury Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Perjury Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.