Definition

1. Noun:
   • The criminal offense of making false statements under oath: This term specifically refers to the act of lying or providing untrue information while under a formal oath to tell the truth, typically in a legal setting like a court of law. It is synonymous with perjury.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The witness was charged with bearing false witness after the court discovered his testimony was fabricated.
  • In many legal systems, bearing false witness is considered a serious crime that undermines justice.

Advanced Usage

• Legal and Moral Connotation: The phrase "bearing false witness" carries strong legal and ethical weight. It is often used in formal or religious contexts (e.g., referencing the Ten Commandments) to emphasize the gravity of lying under oath.
  • The commandment "Thou shalt not bear false witness" highlights the moral prohibition against perjury.

Variants and Related Words

• Perjury (n): The formal legal term for the offense of willfully telling an untruth in a court after having taken an oath.
  • He was convicted of perjury for lying to the grand jury.
• False testimony (n): Untrue statements given by a witness under oath.
  • The case was dismissed due to the witness's false testimony.

Synonyms

• Perjury: Giving false or misleading information while under oath.
• Lying under oath: The act of not telling the truth after swearing to do so.
• Falsification: The action of altering or presenting information so that it is untrue.

Related Phrases

• To commit perjury: To engage in the act of bearing false witness.
  • The defendant warned the witness not to commit perjury.
• To give false evidence: To present untrue information as evidence in a legal proceeding.
  • The investigation focused on those who conspired to give false evidence.

Related Idioms

• To lie through one's teeth: To tell a blatant or obvious lie (this is a general idiom for lying, not specific to the legal oath context).
  • He was lying through his teeth when he gave his alibi.

Noun

1. criminal offense of making false statements under oath