affidavit
noun
Did you know?
Promises, Promises: The History of Affidavit, Affiance, & Fiancé
Affidavit refers to a written promise, and its Latin roots connect it to another kind of promise in English. It comes from a past tense form of the Latin verb affidare, meaning “to pledge”; in Latin, affidavit translates to “he or she has made a pledge.”
Affidare is also the root of affiance, an archaic English noun meaning “trust, faith, confidence,” “marriage contract or promise,” or a meaning that has completely fallen from use, “close or intimate relationship.” More familiar to modern English speakers is the verb affiance, meaning “to promise in marriage” or “to betroth.” It usually appears as a fancy-sounding participial adjective:
I like to give affianced friends a copy of Rebecca Mead’s book “One Perfect Day,” which exposes the ridiculous wedding industry.
—Mollie Hemingway, The Federalist, 7 October 2014
Affiance came through French to English in the 14th century, and, nearly 500 years later, the related French words fiancé and fiancée were added to English. Etymologically speaking, a fiancé or fiancée is a “promised one.”
Did you know?
In Latin, affidavit means "he (she) has sworn an oath", and an affidavit is always a sworn written document. If it contains a lie, the person making it may be prosecuted. Affidavits are often used in court when it isn't possible for someone to appear in person. Police officers must usually file an affidavit with a judge to get a search warrant. Affidavits (unlike similar signed statements called depositions) are usually made without an opposing lawyer being present and able to ask questions.
Examples of affidavit in a Sentence
Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2025
The affidavit notes that Nelson’s mother called 911 the next day to report her son’s involvement in the incident.
—Cristóbal Reyes, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2025
According to a breath alcohol test affidavit, Ross' blood alcohol level was recorded at .330 nearly an hour after the original call was placed.
—Nicole Acosta, People.com, 9 Jan. 2025
She was identified on Thursday for the first time as Laura Hughes, a 50-year-old mother of two who had only just moved to the area, according to an affidavit cited by NJ Advance Media.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for affidavit 
Articles Related to affidavit
Dictionary Entries Near affidavit
Cite this Entry
“Affidavit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affidavit. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
affidavit
noun
Legal Definition
affidavit
noun
Medieval Latin, he/she has pledged faith, third singular perfect of affidare see affiant
Share