testimony

American  

[tes-tuh-moh-nee, -muh-nee] / ˈtɛs təˌmoʊ ni, -mə ni /

noun

plural

testimonies

1. Law. the statement or declaration of a witness under oath or affirmation, usually in court.

   Synonyms:

   attestation, deposition

2. evidence in support of a fact or statement; proof.

   Synonyms:

   corroboration

3. open declaration or profession, as of faith.

   Synonyms:

   affirmation

4. Usually testimonies. the precepts of God.

5. the Decalogue as inscribed on the two tablets of the law, or the ark in which the tablets were kept. Exodus 16:34; 25:16.

6. Archaic. a declaration of disapproval; protest.

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testimony British  

/ ˈtɛstɪmənɪ /

noun

1. a declaration of truth or fact

2. law evidence given by a witness, esp orally in court under oath or affirmation

3. evidence testifying to something

   her success was a testimony to her good luck

4. Old Testament

   1. the Ten Commandments, as inscribed on the two stone tables

   2. the Ark of the Covenant as the receptacle of these (Exodus 25:16; 16:34)

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Related Words

See evidence.

Other Word Forms

• pretestimony noun
• retestimony noun

Etymology

Origin of testimony

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin testimōnium, equivalent to testi(s) “witness” + -mōnium noun suffix; -mony

Example Sentences

The deceit is either ameliorated or worsened by the obvious unreliability of Thomas’s testimony.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

The Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into him in January, centered on testimony he gave to the Senate Banking Committee last June about cost overruns on the Fed headquarters renovation project.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Witness testimony, medical history and the timing of any changes made to estates can help establish a case for undue influence.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

We've gathered eyewitness testimony, filmed the aftermath of strikes and analysed footage from social media and satellite imagery.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

I immediately got an affidavit from Darnell stating that Hooks's testimony was a lie.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Related Words

• affidavit
• data
• demonstration
• deposition
• documentation
• evidence
• information
• statement
• testament
• witness