witness

noun wit·ness \ ˈwit-nəs \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of witness

1 : attestation of a fact or event : testimony

2 : one that gives evidence; specifically : one who testifies in a cause or before a judicial tribunal

3 : one asked to be present at a transaction so as to be able to testify to its having taken place

4 : one who has personal knowledge of something

5 a : something serving as evidence or proof : sign

b : public affirmation by word or example of usually religious faith or conviction

the heroic witness to divine life
—Pilot

6 capitalized : a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses

See witness defined for English-language learners

See witness defined for kids

Examples of witness in a Sentence

The defense called its first witness to the stand.
a witness for the defense
His aunt and uncle were witnesses at his baptism.
There must be two witnesses present when she signs the document.

Recent Examples of witness from the Web

The witness said Allen turned around, accelerated, and ran over Pearmon.

— carol robinson, AL.com, "Man pleads guilty to fatally running over friend, stashing him in hatchback," 9 Apr. 2018
The two witnesses maintain that Rachel Bradley told them she had been assaulted.

— SI.com, "Ex-MLB outfielder Milton Bradley Charged With Spousal Battery," 9 Apr. 2018
The two other witnesses echoed Pickering, calling the chaotic scene terrifying.

— the oregonian/oregonlive, OregonLive.com, "Sewage overflow may have reached Tryon Creek," 8 Apr. 2018
His prison bid will be followed by three years of probation, during which Foss is ordered to remain drug-free, submit to random drug testing, and stay away and have no contact with the witnesses in the case, prosecutors said.

— travis andersen and danny mcdonald, BostonGlobe.com, "He sold heroin that killed a 25-year-old woman. Today, he was sentenced to prison," 6 Apr. 2018
The defense witness said Barajas continued south on County Farm without pausing.

— clifford ward, Elgin Courier-News, "Hearing to determine fate of West Chicago man accused in death of Elgin motorcyclist," 5 Apr. 2018
On Thursday, the final witness in the trial was Stevie Bidjoua Sianard-Roc, who had flown in from Africa to testify and took the stand for 38 minutes.

— gabrielle banks, Houston Chronicle, "Ex-GOP lawmaker Steve Stockman ends defense with two witnesses in his federal fraud trial," 5 Apr. 2018
Then Judge Aloise accused the prosecution of allowing Mr. McCoy, who was the main witness against Mr. Desormeau, to lie on the witness stand.

— joseph goldstein, New York Times, "Detective Convicted of Perjury Receives No Jail Time," 4 Apr. 2018
The witness heard a loud boom and saw the car engulfed in flames, according to police.

— hannah leone, Aurora Beacon-News, "Police video shows witnesses saving man from burning car in Aurora," 4 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'witness.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of witness

Middle English witnesse, from Old English witnes knowledge, testimony, witness, from ²wit

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

witness Synonyms

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

witness

verb

Definition of witness

transitive verb

1 : to testify to : attest

2 : to act as legal witness of

3 : to furnish proof of : betoken

4 a : to have personal or direct cognizance of : see for oneself

witnessed the historic event

b : to take note of

our grammar— witness our verb system—is a marvel of flexibility, variety, and exactitude
—Charlton Laird

5 : to constitute the scene or time of

structures … which this striking Dorset hilltop once witnessed
—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

intransitive verb

1 : to bear witness : testify

2 : to bear witness to one's religious convictions

opportunity to witness for Christ
—Billy Graham

See witness defined for English-language learners

Examples of witness in a Sentence

Several people witnessed the accident.
We are witnessing a historic moment.
He witnessed the signing of her will.

Recent Examples of witness from the Web

As a result, spending time with him means witnessing the near sum total of New York’s fund-raisers.

— rachel aviv, The New Yorker, "A Sidelined Wall Street Legend Bets on Bitcoin," 10 Apr. 2018
Viewers can witness her reaction to the ambush and get a closer look at the home itself by tuning in to the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway Special on Friday, May 25 at 1 p.m. ET on HGTV.

— meghan overdeep, Southern Living, "Young Nashville Family Wins This Year’s HGTV Dream Home," 3 Apr. 2018
Valparaiso coach Todd Evans has never witnessed a shot like that.

— mike hutton, Post-Tribune, "Marcus Gholston and Valparaiso hitters do not intend to play small ball," 30 Mar. 2018
All were witnessed by Tomlin, NFL Network cameras and scouts from every pro team in attendance.

— gentry estes, The Courier-Journal, "Lamar Jackson missed an opportunity to show off all his skills at Louisville pro day," 29 Mar. 2018
The company obtained images taken a day before the crash from the dash cam footage of a person who claims to have witnessed the accident.

— sean o'kane, The Verge, "Tesla defends Autopilot after fatal Model X crash," 28 Mar. 2018
In the wake of trauma like witnessing a school shooting, nearly everyone experiences some kind of grief and distress.

— laura dorwart, SELF, "The Trauma of Surviving a School Shooting—and How You Can Help," 27 Mar. 2018
Rachel got to witness the farmhouse design guru up close and personal during those moments while working as the Magnolia photographer.

— rebecca shinners, Country Living, "This Is What It's Really Like to Be on HGTV's "Fixer Upper"," 21 Feb. 2018
Now 67, Cannan has witnessed thousands of people struggling with brutal medical information, discovering in that moment and those that follow what truly matters in a life and what to let go.

— tom hallman jr., OregonLive.com, "Love's at the root of this plant's long life: Tom Hallman," 25 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of witness

14th century

witness Synonyms

Synonyms

behold, catch, descry, discern, distinguish, espy, eye, look (at), note, notice, observe, perceive, regard, remark, see, sight, spot, spy, view;

Near Antonyms

disregard, ignore, neglect, overpass, pass over;

miss, overlook;

Related Words

identify, make out, pick out, pick up;

attend (to), consider, heed, mark, mind;

study, watch;

examine, inspect, scan, scrutinize, survey;

glance (at), glimpse, peer (at);

Phrases

get a load of [slang], lay eyes on, set eyes on;

Synonym Discussion of witness

certify, attest, witness, vouch mean to testify to the truth or genuineness of something. certify usually applies to a written statement, especially one carrying a signature or seal.

- certified that the candidate had met all requirements

attest applies to oral or written testimony usually from experts or witnesses.

- attested to the authenticity of the document

witness applies to the subscribing of one's own name to a document as evidence of its genuineness.

- witnessed the signing of the will

vouch applies to one who testifies as a competent authority or a reliable person.

- willing to vouch for her integrity

WITNESS Defined for English Language Learners

witness

noun

Definition of witness for English Language Learners

: a person who sees something (such as a crime) happen
law : a person who makes a statement in a court about what he or she knows or has seen
: a person who is present at an event (such as a wedding) and can say that it happened

witness

verb

Definition of witness for English Language Learners

: to see (something) happen
law : to be present at (an event) in order to be able to say that it happened : to act as a legal witness of (something)
: to be the time or place when (something) happens

WITNESS Defined for Kids

witness

noun wit·ness \ ˈwit-nəs \

Definition of witness for Students

1 : a person who sees or otherwise has personal knowledge of something

witnesses of an accident

2 : a person who gives testimony in court

3 : a person who is present at an action (as the signing of a will) so as to be able to say who did it

4 : testimony

He gave false witness in court.

witness

verb

Definition of witness for Students

witnessed; witnessing

1 : to see or gain personal knowledge of something

2 : to act as a witness to I witnessed the signing of the will.

3 : to be or give proof of

Their actions witness their guilt.

Law Dictionary

witness

noun wit·ness

legal Definition of witness

1 a : attestation of a fact or event

in witness whereof the parties have executed this release

b : evidence (as of the authenticity of a conveyance by deed) furnished by signature, oath, or seal

2 : one who gives evidence regarding matters of fact under inquiry; specifically : one who testifies or is legally qualified to testify in a case or to give evidence before a judicial tribunal or similar inquiry

a witness before a congressional committee

no person…shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself
—U.S. Constitution amend. V

— compare affiant, deponent

— adverse witness

: a witness who is called by or associated with an opposing party or who by statement, conduct, or other evidence (as of relationship) shows bias against or is injurious to the case of the party by whom the witness is called

sought to have his witness declared an adverse witness subject to impeachment

— called also hostile witness; see also leading question at question 1

— alibi witness

: a witness upon whom a criminal defendant relies in establishing an alibi

— character witness

: a witness who testifies as to the character or reputation especially of a criminal defendant : a witness who gives character evidence

— expert witness

: a witness (as a medical specialist) who by virtue of special knowledge, skill, training, or experience is qualified to provide testimony to aid the factfinder in matters that exceed the common knowledge of ordinary people

— hostile witness

: adverse witness in this entry

— lay witness

: a witness who is not an expert witness

— material witness

: a witness whose testimony is necessary for trial and whose presence may sometimes be secured by the state by subpoena, custody, or recognizance

— prosecuting witness

: a witness (as the victim of a crime) whose own allegations initiate the prosecution of the defendant

— qualified witness

: a witness who has sufficient understanding of a record-keeping system to provide testimony that forms the proper foundation for admission of evidence under the business records exception to the hearsay rule

— rebuttal witness

: a witness called upon to rebut evidence already presented

3 : one who is called on to be present at a transaction so as to be able to testify to its occurrence; specifically : one who sees the execution of an instrument and signs it to confirm its authenticity

a witness to a will

4 : eyewitness

a witness to an assault

— bear witness

: to furnish or constitute proof or evidence

Origin and Etymology of witness

Old English witnes knowledge, testimony, witness, from wit mind, sense, knowledge

witness

transitive verb

legal Definition of witness

1 : to furnish evidence or proof of

2 : to act as witness of: as

a : to see the execution of (an instrument) and sign for the purpose of establishing authenticity

witness a will

b : to be formally present as a witness of (as a transaction or the execution of a convict)

3 a : to see or experience directly

b : to take note of

intransitive verb

: to bear witness : give evidence

witness

adjective

legal Definition of witness

: being an object or location used to ascertain a precise boundary point especially on a corner of a tract when marking that point itself is impracticable or impossible