Affidavit vs. Deposition — What's the Difference?

An affidavit ( (listen) AF-i-DAY-vit; Medieval Latin for he has declared under oath) is a written statement of fact voluntarily made by an affiant or deponent under an oath or affirmation which is administered by a person who is authorized to do so by law. Such a statement is witnessed as to the authenticity of the affiant's signature by a taker of oaths, such as a notary public or commissioner of oaths.

The act of deposing, as from high office.

A written declaration made under oath before a notary public or other authorized officer.

The act of depositing, especially the laying down of matter by a natural process.

(legal) A signed document wherein an affiant makes a sworn statement.

Something deposited; a deposit.

A sworn statement in writing; a declaration in writing, signed and made upon oath before an authorized magistrate.

(Law) Sworn testimony recorded for use in court at a later date.

Written declaration made under oath; a written statement sworn to be true before someone legally authorized to administer an oath

Deposition The removal of Jesus from the cross.

The removal of someone from office.

The act of depositing material, especially by a natural process; the resultant deposit.

(chemistry) The production of a thin film of material onto an existing surface.

(legal) The process of taking sworn testimony out of court; the testimony so taken.

(meteorology) The formation of snow or frost directly from water vapor.

(physics) The transformation of a gas into a solid without an intermediate liquid phase (reverse of sublimation)

(religion) The formal placement of relics in a church or shrine, and the feast day commemorating it.

The act of depositing or deposing; the act of laying down or thrown down; precipitation.

The act of bringing before the mind; presentation.

The act of setting aside a sovereign or a public officer; deprivation of authority and dignity; displacement; removal.

That which is deposited; matter laid or thrown down; sediment; alluvial matter; as, banks are sometimes depositions of alluvial matter.

An opinion, example, or statement, laid down or asserted; a declaration.

The act of laying down one's testimony in writing; also, testimony laid or taken down in writing, under oath or affirmation, before some competent officer, and in reply to interrogatories and cross-interrogatories.

The natural process of laying down a deposit of something

(law) a pretrial interrogation of a witness; usually done in a lawyer's office

The act of putting something somewhere

The act of deposing someone; removing a powerful person from a position or office