verb (used with object), per·jured, per·jur·ing. to render (oneself) guilty of swearing falsely or of willfully making a false statement under oath or solemn affirmation: The witness perjured herself when she denied knowing the defendant.
Origin: 1475–85; <
Latin perjūrāre to swear falsely, equivalent to
per- through, i.e., beyond the limits (
see per-) +
jūrāre to swear, literally, to be at law, derivative of
jūs jus Related formsper·jure·ment, noun
per·jur·er, noun
un·per·jur·ing, adjective