What does depose mean?
"Depose" is a formal verb with two well-established senses. Its most familiar meaning is to remove a person from high office or power, especially by force: armies depose dictators, parliaments depose monarchs, and boards depose chief executives. The word carries a weighty, often dramatic connotation, evoking coups, revolutions, and constitutional crises. Its second sense belongs to the law: to depose is to give sworn testimony out of court, typically recorded in writing during pre-trial proceedings known as depositions. Despite appearing unrelated, both senses descend from the same Latin root ponere, meaning "to place," via the past participle positum. To depose a ruler was literally to "put down" from a throne; to be deposed as a witness was to be "set down" in words under oath. English acquired the term from Old French deposer and directly from Medieval Latin deponere, and its cognates include deposit, impose, expose, and compose. Precise, authoritative, and unmistakably formal, "depose" is indispensable in discussions of politics and litigation alike.
To remove someone from a position of power or authority, especially by force.
"A coalition of rival generals moved to depose the president within months of his election."
Almost always transitive; typical objects are rulers, monarchs, officials, and executives.
(Law) To give testimony under oath, especially in a written statement taken before trial.
"Both parties were required to depose before the discovery deadline expired."
Can be used transitively ("attorneys deposed the witness") or intransitively ("she agreed to depose").
When you "depose" a witness, no thrones are involved — the same word that topples kings also puts people under oath in a lawyer's office.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of depose
The word "depose" derives from Latin deponere, meaning "to put down" or "to lay aside", formed from de- (down) plus ponere (to place). It entered Middle English around the fourteenth century through Old French deposer and Medieval Latin usage. Both major senses share this root: deposing a monarch means putting him down from his throne, while a deposition records testimony set down in writing. Cognates from the same Latin root ponere include "deposit," "impose," "expose," "compose," and "position."
Related word forms
How depose is actually used
"Depose" is formal and largely confined to political, historical, and legal contexts. The two principal senses are distinct enough that context almost always disambiguates them: one concerns removal from power, the other sworn testimony. The verb is transitive when it means removing from office but can be used intransitively in legal contexts ("the witness will depose tomorrow").
Easily confused with depose
"Dispose" means to get rid of something (as in "dispose of") or arrange it, while "depose" means to remove a person from office or to testify under oath.
"Dispossess" means to strip someone of property, land, or possessions, whereas "depose" means to strip someone of power, office, or rank.