Word
telltale
Phoneticstell·tale, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɛɫˌteɪɫ/
UK/tˈɛlteɪl/
Definition
n. a sign or piece of evidence that shows something is true or that something has happened. It is a clue that you can see or hear.
n. a sign, symptom, or piece of evidence that indicates the presence of a specific condition or event. Often used in technical or forensic contexts to describe a physical or behavioral indicator.
Examples
“The telltale signs of a leak are visible on the floor.”
“The telltale crack in the engine suggests that the part is about to fail.”
“Forensic experts looked for telltale patterns in the soil samples to determine whether the vehicle had been driven through the field recently.”
Examples
simple
“The telltale signs of a leak are visible on the floor.”
contextual
“The telltale crack in the engine suggests that the part is about to fail.”
complex
“Forensic experts looked for telltale patterns in the soil samples to determine whether the vehicle had been driven through the field recently.”
Real-World Examples
“Fortunately for the Kremlin, there are opportunities to falsify the elections without leaving telltale signs that might provoke postelection protests.” “When you tap the mic input button (which now has the telltale AI sparkle), you get a feature called Rambler.” Etymology
From tell + tale, perhaps dissimilated from earlier taleteller, from Middle English tale tellere (literally “tale teller”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/telltale