What is the act of giving false testimony under oath, which can result in severe legal penalties?

The act of giving false testimony under oath is known as perjury. This legal term specifically refers to the intentional act of swearing to something that one knows is not true while testifying or submitting written statements in legal matters. Perjury undermines the integrity of the judicial process, as it hampers the pursuit of truth and justice. Legal consequences for perjury can be quite severe, including penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment, depending on the jurisdiction and the specific circumstances of the case.

The other terms, while related to dishonesty or misconduct within legal contexts, do not specifically refer to the act of providing false testimony under oath. Fraud generally involves deceptive practices to secure unfair or unlawful gain, obstruction of justice pertains to any act that interferes with law enforcement's ability to carry out their duties, and false reporting refers to the act of making a false statement to law enforcement officials, such as filing a false police report. Each of these has its own implications and legal definitions, but they do not encompass the specific act of giving false testimony, which is precisely what perjury describes.