affidavit

C1 Topic:Communication

US /ˌæf.ɪˈdeɪ.vɪt/ UK /ˌæf.ɪˈdeɪ.vɪt/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
A written statement that someone swears to be true, used as evidence in a court of law

The witness signed an affidavit confirming what she had seen.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a written statement that... sworn statementdeposition declaration

Word family

Related forms oath testimony depose swear verify witness

Simplified etymology

Affidavit entered English as a legal term in the early 16th century from medieval Latin. It literally means “he or she has stated on oath.”

Etymology

From Medieval Latin affīdāvit, literally 'he/she has pledged', from Latin ad- ('to') + fīdō ('to trust'), from fidēs ('faith').

fidēs Latin ad- Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Communication

External links

# affidavit

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌæf.ɪˈdeɪ.vɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌæf.ɪˈdeɪ.vɪt/

## Meanings
1. A written statement that someone swears to be true, used as evidence in a court of law

## Examples
- The witness signed an affidavit confirming what she had seen.

## Synonyms
- sworn statement
- deposition
- declaration

## Related Forms
- oath
- testimony
- depose
- swear
- verify
- witness

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: fidēs
- Root: ad-

## Etymology
From Medieval Latin affīdāvit, literally 'he/she has pledged', from Latin ad- ('to') + fīdō ('to trust'), from fidēs ('faith').

## AI Etymology
Affidavit is from Medieval Latin affīdāvit, literally 'he/she has pledged', from Latin ad- ('to') plus fīdō ('to trust'), from fidēs ('faith'). The formation is semantically transparent: the parts remain visible, while the compound or affix fixes the grammatical role and narrows the modern meaning. In use as a noun, affidavit denotes a written statement that someone swears to be true, used as evidence in a court of law. The same word family continues in related entries such as oath, testimony, depose, and swear.

## Topics
- Communication

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