testimony

noun

tes·​ti·​mo·​ny ˈte-stə-ˌmō-nē 

plural testimonies

1

a

: a solemn declaration usually made orally by a witness under oath in response to interrogation by a lawyer or authorized public official

b

: firsthand authentication of a fact : evidence

c

: an outward sign

2

a

: an open acknowledgment

b

: a public profession of religious experience

3

a(1)

: the tablets inscribed with the Mosaic law

(2)

: the ark containing the tablets

b

: a divine decree attested in the Scriptures

Synonyms

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

Examples of testimony in a Sentence

The jury heard 10 days of testimony.

There were contradictions in her testimony.

the personal testimonies of survivors of the war

It is testimony to her courage and persistence that she worked for so long in the face of such adversity.

The popularity of diet fads is a testimony to the fact that people want a quick fix for their health and weight problems.

Recent Examples on the Web

Another testimony was from the Inner Princess Program, no doubt stemming from her own wishes as a child. —Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024

Ahead of the Assembly vote, the proposal elicited fiery testimony from Cabral-Guevara during a committee hearing. —Jessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024

There have been numerous testimonies, the one of Adèle Haenel, which triggered many things, and more recently, the one by Judith Godrèche. —Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024

Navarro reported to prison on March 19 in Miami after being convicted in September of two counts of contempt of Congress for refusing to provide testimony and documents to the House Select Committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. —Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2024

The Insider also ran a long investigative story piecing together data from cellphones, air travel data, and witness testimonies to place the unit operatives at the same time and place where some of the incidents happened in Europe. —Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024

Bangkok Prison Obaid and Mahony’s 2023 indictment was based in part on the testimony of Xavier Justo, the third employee at Petrosaudi. —Hugo Miller, Fortune Europe, 2 Apr. 2024

Local manufacturers’ response is testimony to the intense competition in China’s automobile market, the world’s largest. —Bloomberg, Fortune Asia, 1 Apr. 2024

Kuk declined to take the money, saying Chan should keep track of it, according to Wang’s testimony. —David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English testimonie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin & Latin; Late Latin testimonium Decalogue, from Latin, evidence, witness, from testis witness — more at testament

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a(1)

Kids Definition

testimony

noun

tes·​ti·​mo·​ny ˈtes-tə-ˌmō-nē 

plural testimonies

1

: firsthand evidence

according to the testimony of eyewitnesses

2

: a statement made by a witness under oath especially in a court

3

: a public declaration of religious experience

Legal Definition

testimony

noun

tes·​ti·​mo·​ny ˈtes-tə-ˌmō-nē 

plural testimonies

: evidence furnished by a witness under oath or affirmation and either orally or in an affidavit or deposition

— former testimony

: testimony that a witness gives at a different proceeding (as another hearing or a deposition)

Note: Under Federal Rule of Evidence 804, former testimony is admissible as an exception to the hearsay rule when the declarant is unavailable and if a predecessor in interest in a civil proceeding or the party against whom the testimony is offered had an opportunity and similar motive to develop the testimony.

— negative testimony

: testimony concerning what did not happen

especially : testimony concerning what one did not perceive

negative testimony that the witness did not hear a train whistle

Note: Negative testimony is sometimes accorded the same weight as positive testimony when the witness was in a position to perceive something and was eagerly attentive.

— opinion testimony

: testimony relaying opinion as opposed to direct knowledge of the facts at issue

Note: Opinion testimony may be allowed in evidence when it helps the factfinder understand or determine the facts at issue. Such testimony by a lay witness must be rationally based on his or her perception. A qualified expert witness may also give opinion testimony. The expert's opinion may be based on facts or data that he or she perceives directly or of which he or she is made aware other than by direct perception at or before trial.

— positive testimony

: testimony that presents an affirmative declaration of fact and is based on the personal knowledge of the testifier

— reputation testimony

: testimony concerning a person's reputation among associates or in the community

testimonial

ˌtes-tə-ˈmō-nē-əl 

adjective

testimonially adverb

Etymology

Latin testimonium, from testis witness