What does perjured mean?
Perjured means that someone has knowingly lied while under oath, or that something such as testimony or a statement was given falsely under oath. The word carries a strongly formal and legal tone and is associated with courtrooms, judicial proceedings, and official investigations. A person described as perjured has not simply made an inaccurate statement: they have deliberately made a formal oath and broken it, a serious offense commonly known as perjury. Perjured is the past participle and adjective form of the verb perjure. It is often used in expressions such as “perjured witness” and “perjured testimony,” where it emphasizes the legal seriousness of the deception. Although the word can sometimes describe a broader pattern of false promises, its most established use concerns false statements made under oath.
Having knowingly sworn falsely or given false testimony under oath.
"The judge ruled that the witness was perjured."
Chiefly used in legal contexts; “perjured witness” and “perjured testimony” are established expressions.
To have sworn falsely or knowingly given false testimony under oath.
"The defendant perjured himself before the court."
This is the past participle of perjure and can function as a finite verb in constructions such as “he perjured himself.”
A perjured witness has not merely lied: they have made a formal promise before a court and broken it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does perjured come from?
The word comes through Middle English from Old French perjure, ultimately from Latin perjurare, a compound of per- “to swear” and jurare “to swear an oath.” The same Latin root produced the related forms perjury and perjurer, while the concept of falsely swearing an oath has ancient roots in legal and religious traditions. The exact meaning of the Latin prefix in this development reflects the idea of swearing in a way that is deceptive or false.
Related word forms
How perjured is actually used
This is a formal and legal term, especially common in judicial and courtroom contexts. It normally describes a person, testimony, statement, or declaration that involves a deliberate falsehood made under oath.
Easily confused with perjured
“Perjured” describes someone who has sworn falsely or given false testimony; “perjury” names the act of swearing falsely.