testimonial

1 of 2

noun

tes·​ti·​mo·​ni·​al ˌte-stə-ˈmō-nē-əl 

-nyəl

1

a

: a statement testifying to benefits received

b

: a character reference : letter of recommendation

2

: an expression of appreciation : tribute

3

: evidence, testimony

testimonial

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or constituting testimony

2

: expressive of appreciation or esteem

a testimonial dinner

Did you know?

In 1639, Scottish poet William Drummond responded to the politics of his day with a cheeky set of new laws, including one stipulating that "no man wear a ... periwig, unless he have a testimonial from a town-clerk, that he is either bald, sickly, or asham'd of white hairs." Testimonials take different forms, but always, like in Drummond's facetious law, they provide affirmation or evidence. (Testimonial traces to Latin testimonium, meaning "evidence" or "witness.") In the 19th century, testimonial developed a new use, referring to a tribute—that is, a gift presented as a public expression of appreciation. Today, testimonial is most often used to refer to a statement—such as one posted on any number of websites devoted to consumer reviews—that endorses a product or service.

Synonyms

Noun

• attestation
• confirmation
• corroboration
• documentation
• evidence
• proof
• substantiation
• testament
• testimony
• validation
• voucher
• witness

Examples of testimonial in a Sentence

Noun

He received a glowing testimonial from his former employer.

her performance in this tournament has been a testimonial to the dedication and talent she brings to the tennis court

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After the game, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra offered something of a testimonial to the growth in his offensive game. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025

To identify that kind of pain point, dig into your client feedback, read through testimonials, and conduct interviews. —Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025

Adjective

Lee was brought back into the team by Bobby Robson and would later receive a testimonial season to mark his service to the club. —Daniel Taylor, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024

But if Face or Touch ID had been enabled on Adams’ device, the FBI potentially could have unlocked his phone with biometrics — which aren’t typically considered a form of testimonial evidence. —Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 2 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for testimonial

• antimonial
• ceremonial
• matrimonial
• postcolonial
• precolonial
• anticolonial
• intercolonial
• neocolonial
• baronial
• colonial

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Kids Definition

testimonial

1 of 2 adjective

tes·​ti·​mo·​ni·​al ˌtes-tə-ˈmō-nē-əl 

: being a testimonial

testimonial

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a recommendation of a product or service

b

: a letter of recommendation

2

: something given or said to show affection or respect : tribute