Perjury
Perjury , noun
[Latin perjurium. See Perjure, v.]
1.
False swearing.
2.
(Law) At common law, a willfully false statement in a fact material to the issue, made by a witness under oath in a competent judicial proceeding. By statute the penalties of perjury are imposed on the making of willfully false affirmations.
If a man swear falsely in nonjudicial affidavits, it is made perjury by statute in some jurisdictions in the United States.