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
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 12 July 2025
According to the affidavit, officers found a machete in the bathtub and a large kitchen knife.
—Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 11 July 2025
The extent of the claims are documented in a 255-page affidavit that remains under seal while one co-defendant, Ying Zhang, remains free.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 July 2025
According to a probable cause affidavit, the Palm Beach Police Department said that officers responded to the president's Florida residence after receiving reports that the United States Secret Service was investigating a suspicious person.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for affidavit
Cite this Entry
“Affidavit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affidavit. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
affidavit
noun
Legal Definition
affidavit
noun
Medieval Latin, he/she has pledged faith, third singular perfect of affidare see affiant
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