affidavit
noun
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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.”
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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
Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Apr. 2024
From November 2021 to January 2024, Mizuhara wired more than $16 million in unauthorized transfers from a checking account belonging to Ohtani, according to an affidavit filed with a criminal complaint.
—Andrew Blankstein, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
The affidavit says punches and kicks were exchanged between the two men as bystanders attempted to separate them.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
As he was brought back to his feet, the affidavit says, video footage from a police vehicle dash camera shows a gun near the man’s right hip and that one shot was fired, hitting an officer on the elbow.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024
The affidavit says ShotSpotter, a device used to detect the sounds of gunshots, alerted police to eight shots at the time and location of the shooting.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
In the affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital, officers said 61-year-old Brent George was arrested and charged with four counts of battery after the altercation that unfolded at Belle Vue Lounge, a bar inside Disney's Boardwalk Inn, on Jan. 25.
—Stepheny Price, Fox News, 5 Apr. 2024
The victims, identified in an affidavit only as residents of Brazil, traveled to Los Angeles in May 2023 to attend a fashion event, FBI Special Agent Gary Wallace wrote.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
According to the affidavit: Police confirmed marijuana on the property as early as July 2021, using criminal informants and other forms of surveillance.
—Frank E. Lockwood, arkansasonline.com, 30 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'affidavit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
borrowed from Medieval Latin affīdāvit "he/she has made a pledge," third person singular perfect indicative active of affīdāre — more at affiance entry 1
1515, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Affidavit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affidavit. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
affidavit
noun
Legal Definition
affidavit
noun
Medieval Latin, he/she has pledged faith, third singular perfect of affidare see affiant
More from Merriam-Webster on affidavit
Nglish: Translation of affidavit for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of affidavit for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about affidavit
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