deposition

noun

de·​po·​si·​tion ˌde-pə-ˈzi-shən How to pronounce deposition (audio)
ˌdē-pə-
1
a
law : a testifying especially before a court
was sworn in before giving his deposition
b
: declaration
specifically, law : testimony taken down in writing under oath
took depositions from the witnesses
c
law : out-of-court testimony made under oath and recorded by an authorized officer for later use in court
gave a videotaped deposition about what she witnessed
also : a meeting at which such testimony is taken
2
: an act or process of laying someone or something down or letting something fall : an act or process of depositing
the deposition of earth and stone by glaciers
3
: something deposited : deposit
Moraines are glacial depositions.
4
: an act of removing from a position of authority : an act of deposing
deposition of a king
depositional
ˌde-pə-ˈzish-nəl How to pronounce deposition (audio)
-shə-nᵊl
ˌdē-pə-
adjective

Examples of deposition in a Sentence

She gave a videotaped deposition about what she saw that night. His attorneys took depositions from the witnesses. the deposition of sand and gravel on the river bed
Recent Examples on the Web Mensah himself said in deposition that Anderson could have been reaching for his phone, Motley said in the motion for reconsideration. Bridget Fogarty, Journal Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2024 In a deposition last year, Trump said that his companies had more than four hundred million dollars in cash or cash equivalents, which may well be an exaggeration. John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2024 In a deposition, Macfarlane testified that Bowman Meats took the goat, and was told Vista Real Estate was given Cedar’s meat. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 The congressman's deposition is slated for April 5, according to sources, and is part of a sprawling defamation and racketeering lawsuit brought by Gaetz's longtime friend, former Florida House member and lobbyist Chris Dorworth, against the woman and others. Will Steakin, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2024 Back in November, Drake was questioned for several hours in a deposition tied to hundreds of lawsuits filed in Harris County following a crowd surge at the 2021 edition of Astroworld, where 10 people were killed and hundreds of others were injured. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2024 Both sides ultimately agreed in January to a private deposition with a set of conditions. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 29 Feb. 2024 His deposition followed Scott’s, who — along with the Live Nation and other organizers — has largely been targeted by the suits. Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2024 The planet’s surface is a churn of deposition and erosion, uplift and subsidence, which tend to erase from sight evidence of even the most consequential events. Zach St. George, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deposition.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see depose

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Time Traveler
The first known use of deposition was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near deposition

Cite this Entry

“Deposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deposition. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

deposition

noun
de·​po·​si·​tion ˌdep-ə-ˈzish-ən How to pronounce deposition (audio)
ˌdē-pə-
1
: the act of removing a person from high office
the deposition of the king
2
: a statement especially in writing made under oath
3
: the action or process of depositing
the deposition of silt by a stream
4
: something deposited : deposit
depositional
-ˈzish-nəl How to pronounce deposition (audio)
-ən-ᵊl
adjective

Medical Definition

deposition

noun
de·​po·​si·​tion ˌdep-ə-ˈzi-shən How to pronounce deposition (audio) ˌdē-pə- How to pronounce deposition (audio)
1
: a process of depositing something
the deposition and clearance of a metabolic product
2
: something deposited : deposit
beta-amyloid depositions in Alzheimer's disease

Legal Definition

deposition

noun
de·​po·​si·​tion ˌde-pə-ˈzi-shən How to pronounce deposition (audio)
1
a
: a statement that is made under oath by a party or witness (as an expert) in response to oral examination or written questions and that is recorded by an authorized officer (as a court reporter)
broadly : affidavit
b
: the certified document recording such a statement compare interrogatory
2
: the hearing at which a deposition is made
the deposition takes place where the deponent answers the questionsFederal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 30(b)(4)

Note: A deposition can be used as a method of discovery, to preserve the testimony of a witness who is likely to become unavailable for trial, or for impeachment of testimony at trial. Depositions are distinguished from affidavits by the requirement that notice and an opportunity to cross-examine the deponent must be given to the other party.

Etymology

Late Latin depositio testimony, from Latin, act of depositing, from deponere to put down, deposit

More from Merriam-Webster on deposition

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!