testimonial

1 of 2

noun

tes·​ti·​mo·​ni·​al ˌte-stə-ˈmō-nē-əl How to pronounce testimonial (audio)
-nyəl
1
a
: a statement testifying to benefits received
b
: a character reference : letter of recommendation
2
: an expression of appreciation : tribute
3

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 facetious 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 faux 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 that endorses a product or service.

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
Don’t be afraid to ask for testimonials or recommendations from past employers, colleagues, or clients. William Arruda, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024 Business Leaders for Harris went live with a website early Friday that features online testimonials, both from small business owners and hugely successful entrepreneurs. Brian Schwartz, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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 And Kay’s rebuttal provided a testimonial, free of charge, for YES’ booth. Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 29 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for testimonial 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'testimonial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of testimonial was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near testimonial

Cite this Entry

“Testimonial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/testimonial. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

testimonial

1 of 2 adjective
tes·​ti·​mo·​ni·​al ˌtes-tə-ˈmō-nē-əl How to pronounce testimonial (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on testimonial

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