# telltale

/ˈtɛɫˌteɪɫ/ (US) · /tˈɛlteɪl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/telltale
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.