character witness

noun

1. a person who testifies as to the moral character and reputation of a litigant in a court of law or other legal proceeding.

Word History and Origins

Origin of character witness¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

It was what an increasing number of people were implying publicly and many had said privately for some time, and the new prime minister was a character witness.

From BBC

A trial included a parade of character witnesses, many of them wronged by the defendants over nine seasons, attesting to their unethical behavior.

From New York Times

Tacopino was right to believe his client is the strongest character witness against himself.

From Salon

He called A.J. as a character witnesses, and A.J. traveled to Washington with a peace offering for his father in their language of jokes.

From New York Times

That means only Bankman-Fried or other character witnesses can tell his side of the story, former prosecutors said.

From Seattle Times