What is the term for a false statement made under oath that the individual does not believe to be true?

The term for a false statement made under oath that the individual does not believe to be true is perjury. Perjury is a serious offense that involves swearing to the truth of a statement in a legal context—such as in court or during an official proceeding—while knowing that the statement is false. This act undermines the integrity of the judicial system, as it directly affects the trustworthiness of witness testimony.

Perjury requires that the individual not only made a statement that is false but also that they had the intent to deceive by knowingly providing that false information under oath. This distinguishes it from other terms related to dishonesty. For example, fraud generally refers to a broader range of deceitful practices aimed at securing unfair or unlawful gain, while falsehood and deception are more general concepts that do not necessarily involve legal proceedings or the element of being under oath.